motors not working

Test the parallel port on the back of the computer (Mach3). - Click on Config -> Ports and Pins - Click on the motor outputs tab from the ports and pins screen. - Enable the X axis, set the pin number to be tested in the DIR column, make sure the DIR port number is set to 1, or the port that is being used - Press ok. - Press the reset button so it shows green and is not blinking. - Make sure the Jog on/off is set to on at the main screen. - Using a volt meter, connect the red lead to the respective pin on the back of the computer and the black lead to the computer power supply housing, or pin #18. - Press the left arrow on the keyboard (give the meter time to show the voltage). Note the volt reading on the meter. - Press the right arrow on the keyboard (give the meter time to show the voltage). Note the volt reading on the meter. - If the voltage is the same for both left and right arrow presses, then either the computer parallel port is not functioning, or mach is not set with the correct port address. - Do this parallel test for each pin of the parallel port.

Additional Solution:

The dip switches need to be set correctly.

Additional Solution:

A Few Common Quick Solutions:. - Make sure that the breakout board is powered with 5 volts, (i.e. the USB is plugged in) - (If using Mach) Make sure that the jog on/off is enabled in Mach3. - The axis in motor output (config -> ports andpins -> motors output tab) should be set active low if the common is 5v (blue breakout, or small green breakout)

Additional Solution:

Confirm that the port #1 address is correct (Mach3). - In Mach3, click on Config-> Ports and Pins. - If the parallel port is integrated on the mother board, then the address is probably 0x378 - If the parallel port is an adapter card: - click on start - right click on computer - click on manage - click on device manager (on the left) - Expand "Ports (COM & LPT)" - Right click on the LPT port to be used, click on properties - Click on the resources tab - Note the IO ranges that is presented to you - In Mach3 ports and pins screen, change the port #1 address to 0x followed by the first IO range number.