Mach 3-2nd parallel port-pins 2-9 as inputs

[Steve Pilon]

Greetings all,

Im trying to use a 2nd parallel port with Mach 3 to gain additional inputs, I am having problems getting mach 3 to recognize inputs on pins 1-9. Using the auto-configuration utility, Mach 3 sets up inputs automatically for the traditional inputs(pin 10 etc) but when I switch the input to pins 1-9 it sees nothing. I have selected the "Use pins 1-9 as inputs" check-box but still nothing. 

For what its worth im using 2 of these breakout boards

CNC4PC c10

For the record I have not had any problems with outputs. 

[Edward Kuypers]

Is there a chance it might be as simple as this ?

[Steve Pilon]

Update: 

I had the jumpers set right. It turns out that the parallel port will only accept using pins 2-9 as inputs in EPP mode. The BIOS was set originally to ECP mode which didn't allow 1-9 to be used as inputs. Im not sure if this is a ieee 1284 standards thing or specific to the motherboard, a Core 2 Duo Dell. Also as a side note the Mach 3 auto-input setup does not work properly for the second parallel port, I had to manually assign port and pin and the active state(low or high). 

[Steve Pilon]

Just for clarity I mean pins 2-9, for some reason I keep writing 1-9 oops. 

[Edward Kuypers]

I am glad you figured it out !
Also if you don't mind my curiosity what kind of machine / setup you running with all of those inputs :)

[Steve Pilon]

The original idea was to break out each input so I could back off the end stop instead if running them all together however mach seems incapable of doing that. Any ideas?

[Steve Pilon]

Here is a quick run down of the electronics box and the first movement. I also have the z axis going now and some rough calibration done.

https://youtu.be/jamQUZ2e-tE