You have motors and drivers that already work with your machine (unless the drivers are an all-in-one setup and not modular. I would advise you to keep your current electronics and replace the parallel port breakout board with a controller that uses the USB to operate.

Here are two controllers that work under Mach3, or Mach3 or Mach4:
Mach3 USB controller (works under Mach3 only)
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board
Pokeys57CNC full-featured controller works under Mach3 or Mach4:
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

Alternatively, you can purchase a complete plug-and-play system or have your control system sent over to Buildyourcnc to modify the control system to use one of the above controllers.

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[422] I have a probotix cnc router purchased in 2014, used to run on linyx, now Mach3, WindowsXP, printer port, i would like to be able to use a modern computer usb, do you have something like a plug & play or control box i can wire this into, 2 Y axis, i lost my auto tool length when i switched to XP also, any help appreciated

When you power up your VFD, you can go into the programming mode by pressing the program button. You can press the up and down arrows to move through the parameters. Press the set button to go into the parameter to see the value of that parameter. If you want to make changes to that parameter, change the value with the up and down arrows until the desired value is shown, and press the set button to accept the changes.

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[77] I am having troubles finding the PD program, I have the Pd but it doesn't show everything I need to program my VFD. Any help will be appreciated...

The drivers have quite a bit of protection, so you probably won't ruin anything. You motors are jumping and that is just the motors engaging from getting power from the power supply.

There could be many reasons your motors don't turn. Consider these troubleshooting tips:

- If you are using our parallel breakout board, make sure that the step pins are set for active low (config -> Ports and Pins -> Motor Outputs -> the steps pins should be enabled and set active low)

- The parallel breakout board is powered (connect the USB to the computer using a USB cable)

- In Mach3, make sure you have jog enabled (a little green button at thelower middle of the page in the program run screen).

Additional Information:


Additional Information:
DS26

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My stepper motors stopped working all of a sudden. Mach 3 is running fine, just no signals getting to the motors. The lights on the motor drivers began blinking erratically when this started. Any advice where a problem like this can come from would be greatly appreciated.

When you power up your VFD, you can go into the programming mode by pressing the program button. You can press the up and down arrows to move through the parameters. Press the set button to go into the parameter to see the value of that parameter. If you want to make changes to that parameter, change the value with the up and down arrows until the desired value is shown, and press the set button to accept the changes.

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I AM HAVING TROUBLES FINDING THE PD PROGRAM, HAVE BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW EVERYTHING NEED TO PROGRAM MY VFD. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED...

Yes, here is the URL for the parallel breakout board that we sell:

https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay

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can I purchase just the parallel controller board? I purchased the usb option 4 axis combo and would like to also try the system with my parallel port computer. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated; my goal is to implement mach4.

What electronics do you have at the moment? Depending on your machine, you will need a minimum of 3 stepper motors and 3 drivers (unless your heavy axis requires two stepper motors and two drivers). You will also need an interface board that is capable of providing three inputs for the THC (Torch Height Controller), THC on, THC up and THC down, and outputs for firing the torch. I would recommend the Pokeys57CNC interface for the primary interface. This interface will connect to the stepper motor drivers and the THC. The Pokeys57CNC can also communicate via USB or Ethernet.

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Looking for electronics for a plasmacam table. It's going to to be a 5'x10' table with x,y,z axis. Will be running on windows ten with a hypertherm powermax45 xp plasma cutter. Any information or links would be greatly appreciated!

CamBam specifically creates the g-code (machining operations) instructions to be loaded into Mach3. Make sure in your CamBam g-code file parameters, you are using the Mach3 post processor. If you have already done this, let me know. If you are not sure how to do this, let me know.

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I am having trouble connecting the cambam program with my Mach3 to my 4X8 Blackfoot CNC machine. Where can I get help on this issue. Have had my machine since 2015 and have not been able to use it. Thank you

This would totally work for that application. This cable carrier is used for any object that needs to move and carries some electrical or tubing within it. This cable carrier is great for cable management where you want to make sure the wires and tubes are in a position that you set, not where the wires and tubing want to go.

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[311] I am looking to use this type of thing with a pipe for theater. Where the pipe can be lowered and it would have electrical and signal cable inside. Is this good for that or should I look at something else?

The maximum length we can ship is a total of 78" inches. However we can send your required length in portions. Please refer to adding the total items you require to your cart to get a visualized amount and shipping cost.

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Regarding 1/2" 5 start and 10 TPI ACME precision lead screw, what the maximum length you can ship within USA? I'm looking for something like 100" and I could use a 1" screw if available. Please include estimated price. Thanks.

Currently our only location is in Katy, Texas at this current time, we can help you assemble the machine and if any issues occur we can always help you with the problems, but will have to be managed through email or phone (which ever is your preference).

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I live in China and my company would like to buy the 40w laser cutting machine. I am wondering if you can help us assemble and maintain the machine in China? Do you have any service point here? Thank you

Is this regarding the Mach3 USB controller?

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I'm having a problem with my controller card: I can measure 24 volts going to the card, but when I set Mach3 outputs I reagister no voltage. Please help

When you press the x-axis limit switch, does the LED emit light?

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I currently have my whiteant build complete. But when I go to print the 20mm x 20mm box I seem to be having issues. The Z axis does not seem to move. Also the X axis hits the limit and does not move of of it. What is the best way to trouble shoot this issue?

The drivers have quite a bit of protection, so you probably won't ruin anything. You motors are jumping and that is just the motors engaging from getting power from the power supply.

There could be many reasons your motors don't turn. Consider these troubleshooting tips:

- If you are using our parallel breakout board, make sure that the step pins are set for active low (config -> Ports and Pins -> Motor Outputs -> the steps pins should be enabled and set active low)

- The parallel breakout board is powered (connect the USB to the computer using a USB cable)

- In Mach3, make sure you have jog enabled (a little green button at thelower middle of the page in the program run screen).

Additional Information:


Additional Information:
DS26

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If I wired my stepper motors incorrectly what parts of the electronics will be ruined? When I turn on the power, my motors jump like they are supposed to but for some reason, the G-code doesn't seem to be moving from Mach 3 to the motors. Any help would be appreciated. Do I need to order new electronics or just part of the system? Thanks

There should be no problem with getting the 1/2" ID bearing on the lead screw, unless there is a bent in the lead screw or it has a piece of debris that is causing a issue.

Unless one of these items were purchased from a 3rd party, then there might be tolerance issues from the original manufacture which might cause this issue.
If possible please send photos to customerservice@buildyourcnc.com

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I am having a significant amount of trouble getting the 1/2" ID bearing to fit over the 1/2" 5 start lead screw. I can only get it about half an inch onto the rod. Any tips to get it to slide further?

I created a video that demonstrates the wiring and Mach3 configuration for the Mach3 USB controller. It is the last video on the following webpage:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

If you have a different controller, let me know and I can provide further inforatmion.

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Hello, After watching the tutorial to set up my spindle in Mach3, My outputs are not working. Any help would be appreciated. Just Simple on/off.

You may need to add the m7 or m8 code to turn on the coolant or mist and m9 to turn it off. I will look further into this to see if mach3 can turn on the coolant when the spindle is turned off. I believe the coolant is a separate function from the spindle control since you may not need coolant for every material that you will be milling.

Additional Information:


Additional Information:
I have tried typing M7 and M8 into the MDI with no success. I can toggle the coolant on and off using the flood control button. Water flows and the LED lights on the diagnostic page. I followed the setup instructions in the video on the Pokeys57CNC page, which includes the spindle setup page. Those videos are very helpful.

Additional Information:
To close this question - The M7 M8 commands did start working. I never figured out why they would not work before. I still cannot get the coolant to turn on with the spindle from the Mach3 set up. I have given up and just make sure the M command is in the g code.

Additional Information:

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I can turn the flood coolant on using the toogle in Mach3 so Mach3 is talking to the PokeysCNC board (using output3). In spindle setup, Output3 is assigned to flood and the disable box is not checked. Output 3 is enabled and assigned to the correct relay. However, coolant does not come on when the spindle is turned on. Any suggestions about what I am doing wrong would be appreciated.

VFD settings........
1) To program the VFD, wire it up, plug it in. It takes several seconds to come to life.

2) Push the PRGM button to enter programing mode.

3 )Push the SET button. The display will read PD000.

4) If you push the SET button again, it will display the present setting of PD000.

5 )By pushing the up or down arrows, you can change the setting to whatever it needs to be. (This is just an example. PD000 needs no changes)

6)Push the SET button again to lock in the setting of PD000 and advance to the next number, in this case, PD001.

7) Push the SET button and it will display the present setting of PD001. Again, use the up and down arrows as necessary to set PD001, then push SET again to lock it in.

Note: You can also scroll through the PD numbers with the up and down arrows.

8) make all settings this way.

9) by pushing the SET button you can scroll through the settings. First push of SET moves to the next number, second push displays it's setting, third push moves to the next PD number.

Note- If you take too long, it will leave the programing mode on it's own. If it does, just push PRGM again to return to programing mode. Then press SET and continue what you were doing.

10) Start with PD013. Set it to 1, which returns the settings to the factory settings.

11) Then set PD005 to 400, PD004 to 400, and PD003 to 400 IN THAT ORDER.

12) Then set the following: PD041=8, PD144=3000

13) Set PD209=50

That's it for the programing. You should get 24000RPM when you push RUN.

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I just received a replacement spindle (2.2kW 220v). However, when I attempted it use the new spindle, it would only reach 1500 rpm. Is there something I need to change on the spindle controller?

Has the tube functioned properly prior to this issue?

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I am having issues with the laser firing. Seems like there is an arc in the end of the tube where the elctrode is but i am not sure if i am doing something wrong.

Sure, the USB interface has a place for 4 axes of limit switches.

Each axis can have two limit switches: one for the ++ (positive) end and one for the -- (negative) end. The positive end would be the limit switch at the end of the machine that, say the machine has a 4'x8' area, reaches a bit after the 8 foot mark. The negative end would be the limit switch behind the 0 foot location behind the origin. If the origin is in the middle, the negative would be at a little more than the -4 foot end and the positive would be at a bit more than the +4 foot end. Note that you can have more than one switch on each pin where the NC is connected in serial fashion and the NO is connected in parallel fashion (this can be seen on the diagram in the multiple limits switch section). The software configurations for the limits switches are under File -> Settings -> Limit.

A typical limit switch has three connections on it. These connections consist of COM (common), NC (normally closed) and NO (normally open). The COM would generally go to GND and the NC or the NO would go to the pin. If the NC is used, then the the switch is constantly connected until the switch is pushed (engaged) then the connection from the pin to gnd is broken (open). Use the settings in software to set whether in NC or NO configuration.

Let me know if this information was helpful (or not) by adding information to this question. Thanks.

User response:
Thank you very much for this helpful information. I'm still a little fuzzy on how the 6 limit switches physically connect to each other and to the USB breakout board. You've stated one switch (home) goes to positive and another switch (limit) goes to negative. Are all the GND prongs from all 6 switches connected to each other and going to GND on the breakout board, or no? And the NC prongs, how exactly are they connected to each other? And to the board? There has to be a diagram somewhere shows this visually, no? I don't know how to wire the switches in series or in parallel. I have already physically installed all the switches on the machine and ran the wires to where the board is. Now I just need to know where to plug these wires into the board. Also, taking into consideration that I'm using the Planet CNC software, the only settings I have pertaining to limit switches is "Enable/Disable" for each axis, and the actual limit for each axis. Nothing about NC or NO. Is that only in Mach3?
Thank you.

buildyourcnc response:
On the USB interface, the COM on the switch connects to GND and the NC or NO connects to the input pin (i.e. x++, y--, etc.)

Limit switch configuration is rather difficult to understand, especially with series and parallel. You can think of series as a single wire going from GND to the axis letter input terminal (i.e. X++ or X--). If the wire is broken, then the circuit is open (or the switch is engaged in a normally closed scenario). Normally closed is like an actual wire, and when engaged, the switch "opens" (breaks the wire). This is why we recommend in some systems that you can put many switches in series on a single pin. When one of the switches is engaged (breaking the connection) then the entire circuit of switches is broken and the machine stops.

In a parallel scenario, the state of the circuit is always broken until the one of the switches is engaged and the circuit is then closed or connected. The topology looks like a ladder. All the switches connect to both sides of the ladder and the switches are like the runs of the ladder (the horizontal bars that the feet are placed while climbing). Imagine all of the switches broken in this scenario (normally open). It would be like the ladder could be split in two, but if one of the ladder runs (switches) is closed by engaging it, then that run would connect both sides of the ladder and the two sides of the ladder would have a connection.

There is a diagram on the USB page of the various limit switch configurations. If you need more information (visual and/or otherwise), please let us know and we will immediately add that information to benefit everyone.

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I have nearly completed the CNC machine from the book, but I am using it with a USB breakout board, and have no idea how to wire the 6 limit switches to the board. I'm having difficulty following the diagram on the USB breakout board screen. Can someone please help me?