Yes, you can connect a THC, Torch Height Controller, with the Mach3 USB controller. The THC uses the inputs to determine if the z axis needs to move up or down according to the arc of the plasma torch. The THC connects its outputs to the inputs of the controller so the controller will be informed of the states of the plasma torch.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I am interested in using the Mach3 USB interface board. I was wondering if there was a way to run a torch height controller with this board for use with a plasma cutter, and if so do you know of any THCs that will work. Thank you.

If the Z-Axis is moving down when you press the page up or page down (or by moving the z-axis by another means like with an MPG, Pendant, or the built-in MPG in Mach3), then the direction signal wire is not connected correctly. The direction signal wire works by moving in one direction with a low signal (like gnd) and moving in the other direction with a high signal (like 5v). If the signal stays at one of the two signals, it will only move in the direction of the current signal state. Recommended action is to determine if the DIR- and DIR+ signal wires are connected securely and make good contact at the driver and controller sides.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I installed a pokeys57cnc and use Mach3 for the mill. When I page up or down the Z axis moves down. Is there a setting I need to change? I checked the Z axis wiring and it matches the X and Y axis which function correctly.

If the Z-Axis is moving down when you press the page up or page down (or by moving the z-axis by another means like with an MPG, Pendant, or the built-in MPG in Mach3), then the direction signal wire is not connected correctly. The direction signal wire works by moving in one direction with a low signal (like gnd) and moving in the other direction with a high signal (like 5v). If the signal stays at one of the two signals, it will only move in the direction of the current signal state. Recommended action is to determine if the DIR- and DIR+ signal wires are connected securely and make good contact at the driver and controller sides.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I installed a pokeys57cnc and use Mach3 for the mill. When I page up or down the Z axis moves down. Is there a setting I need to change? I checked the Z axis wiring and it matches the X and Y axis which function correctly.

To make an axis move in the opposite direction to what it is currently moving, you will need to toggle the ":direction:" active low setting for that axis. for instance, if when you press the page up button and your z-axis move down instead of up, then you need to make this change in the configuration.

To do this in Mach3:
- Click on the config option in the top menu
- Click on ports & pins
- Click on the motor outputs tab
- on the axis you wish to reverse, click on the "dir active low" to toggle the state of that parameter.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I installed a pokeys57cnc and use Mach3 for the mill. When I page up or down the Z axis moves down. Is there a setting I need to change? I checked the Z axis wiring and it matches the X and Y axis which function correctly.

It's generally acceptable to use one pin for all of your limit switches wired Normally Closed (NC), and another separate pin for a Z probe that is Normally Open (NO). LinuxCNC is quite flexible and allows for mixed configurations of NC and NO switches.

Just ensure you configure LinuxCNC correctly to recognize each pin's logic (Active low or active high). And perhaps run a few tests before running the machine.

Additional Information:
It's generally acceptable to use one pin for all of your limit switches wired Normally Closed (NC), and another separate pin for a Z probe that is Normally Open (NO). LinuxCNC is quite flexible and allows for mixed configurations of NC and NO switches.

Just ensure you configure LinuxCNC correctly to recognize each pin's logic (Active low or active high). And perhaps run a few tests before running the machine.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
[59] is it ok to use one pin for all of the limit switches wired NC and another pin for a z probe that is NO, or do all input pins need to be the same (NC or NO)? I would like to use LinuxCNC but will use Mach3 if necessary. a thanks!

The THC and the triggering of the plasma are actually two different functions of a controller. To trigger a plasma cutter, you can use one of the outputs of the Mach3 USB controller (out 1, 2, 3, or 4). That output can be connected to a relay that connects to the two wires that will trigger the plasma.

This video will show how this is done:

Click the link to add information to this solution:
[575] How can I wire/ configure for a plasma cutter without THC? Plasma cutter has a cnc port, where when you short two of the pins, it activates the cutter. Just looking to see how to make that short when pressing f5 in Mach3.

We can configure the redLeaf or redSprout to control the motor of a 4th axis. The driver we use for the motor on the 4th axis is our standard 3.0 amp driver.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
If I purchase the Heavy Duty redleaf system (651 oz-in motors) and your 4th Axis Tail Stock setup will you configure the 4th axis to the computer? Your site states the 4th axis add on is "for a total of 4 axes 425 oz-in motors only"

Yes, you can use a corner plate very easily. You will want to make a corner plate that has three independent plates that do not conduct with each other. Each of these plates will be connected to a different input (i.e. IN1 for X, IN2 for Y and IN3 for Z). The end mill or tool that is inserted into the spindle will connect to V- of the 24V power supply, or the DCM on the controller, which is connected to the 24V V-. Then, you can use the ref all home button on the program run screen of Mach3.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
Is there a way to use an X,Y plate that will only be responsible for corner finding in Mach3 with the Mach3 USB controller?

Connecting drivers from a controller to the driver does not require relays. A controller typically has pins or terminals for Step and Direction. These terminals connect to the driver's Pulse and Direction terminals. For instance for the X axis: if you are connecting from the Mach3 USB controller, you would connect the XD (X axis Direction) terminal to the Driver's DIR+ terminal, and the XP (X axis Pulse) to theDriver's PUL+ terminal, and the GND from the controller to the PUL- and DIR- terminals.

I have thorough step by step instruction for two controllers:
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

Click the link to add information to this solution:
When you are talking about relatys, that is all Greek to me. Will a breakout board do what I need to hook up to my drivers?

Strictly to the point. Assuming:
-You have a working linuxcnc install with a compatible parallel port
-You have wired Bread-Out Board V5 to the motor drivers so you know which pins are for which signals(watch video tutorials for that on this site)
-You have wired motors to motor drivers (watch video tutorials for that on this site)

a)We need to know the base parallel port addres, for that you need to input on a linux terminal the command:

#lspci -v

You can scroll up and down the result with page up and page down. Look for a "Parallel Port..." line, the value you are looking for is the "I/O Ports at.." Write them down

To get the Base Period Maximun Jitter, go to
applications - cnc - Latency Test

Now you should let that window running for a while, so it calculates an accurate jitter, go watch the tutorial videos for the connections between the Bread-Out Board and the motor controllers.

After its been running for half an hour or so with the machine in use, write down the calculated jitter values, mine was Servo Thread - 39000

Now close the Latency test dialog

b)Go to applications - cnc - stepconfwizard
"START" - Create a new config
Check - Create Desktop Shortcut to config files
Check - Create Desktop Shortcut to start linuxcnc with this config
FORWARD

c)"BASE INFORMATION"
Fill in a Machine Name that suits you
Bluechick is XYZ on inches
Fill in the Base Period Maximun Jitter with the value obtained in "a)"

FORWARD

d)If you watched the tutorials on a) and b) you know the pin numbers for your signals.
Parport Base Address you need to put the value obtained in a), mine was cf00
Output pinout presets I used Sherline

FORWARD
FORWARD

e)Axis X (chain and sprocket axis)
Data for bluechick from build yourcnc
Motor Steps per revolution 200
Microstepping 64 (that if you followed tutorials, change if you have different)
Pulley teeth 1 ; 1
Leadscrew Pitch 0.444444 (that value comes from 1rev / (.25 in * 9 teeth))
Maximun Velocity 10
Maximun Acceleration 0.5
Home location 0.0
Table travel 0.0 to 34.0 (maybe you want to change this later)

Now, you can do "Test this axis" and jog it (move it!) Try to position everything in the middle (you will be doing it axis by axis) and select
"+ 0.5 in" Hit run, I used a pencil held at the gantry and paper to draw a line, then confirmed that the measurement was 0.5 in. Also tried with "+/- 0.5 in" and confirmed 1" measurement

FORWARD when happy with your Axis X

Repeat for Axix Y but the table travel is 0.0 to 12.0

f)AXIS Z
With data from buildyourcnc.com
Motor Steps per rev 200
Driver Microstepping 16 (as recommended for lead screw)
Pulley teeth 1 ; 1
Leadscrew Pitch 2
Max Vel 2.5
Max Accel 0.5

Table travel 0.0 to 3.5

Test, and FORWARD when happy

g)After configured you can go to
Applications - cnc - LinuxCNC, and there you go...




Additional Information:
... Still think that there should be a tutorial for this part.

Additional Information:
oh¡ Forgot to tell, the config shortcut will be available on our Desktop, launch linuxCNC from there

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I have a BlueChick that came with the 5-Axis Bread-Out Board V5 (parallel port), it has 3xCW230, how to configure it on LinuxCNC?

NC mechanical switch configuration is supported. You can download the manual from this page (Mach4 plugin and manuals):
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

The pokeys57CNC controller has input terminals and pins for limit switches on each of the 8 axes. There are three separate inputs per axis, two for the actual limits of that axis, and one for the home position.

Connect each switch between the GND terminal and its respective axis limit terminal/pin. For instance, the limit switch will typically have three leads, COM, NC, and NO. In an NC configuration, the NC connects to the terminal/pin, say, Axis 1 lim +, and the COM connects to the GND terminal.

In Mach4, in the new device wizard, make sure to specify the correct option on the home and limit switches that matches the machine configuration.



Additional Information:
can you use one switch per axis for home only?

Click the link to add information to this solution:
Hello, I am trying to configure Home and Limit switches using the Pokeyes57cnc and NC switches. I am confused on the procedure of setting this up. wiring to the board and setting up in Mach4. Can you direct me to a tutorial or offer some suggestions? Thanks Dale

Mach4 is designed to run in both 64 and 32-bit computers and operating systems, however, the parallel port interface will not work with 64-bit windows. The easiest solution would be to use a more modern CNC controller, like the:

pokeys57cnc that I sell
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

Or other options like the Smoothstepper board that I do not sell.

Both are great options.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
[468] I wanted to know if I could use a computer with 64 bits windows installed (with Parallel port in the mainboard) or not. Thanks

Yes, we can make a redLeaf system that has all 6A drivers for use with the 651 oz-in motors. We can also wire the electronics in a way that two of the drivers will use the pins of the same axis so that axis will drive two drivers and motors.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I am building a machine that requires 2 steppers to drive the Y axis, can you make me a redleaf system using the 651oz steppers that will work for me?

The Mach3 USB board will fit in the redLeaf, but you may need to modify the Plexiglas top for proper mounting. However, the redLeaf has the proper parallel GPIO on the motherboard for use with the Parallel breakout board. If you have a laser on the machine you are using, then I would urge you to maintain the parallel breakout board as the Mach3 USB board will not work correctly using the Z-direction pin and you will need to determine how to use the output pins onthe USB board to ensure proper laser functionality.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
Will Mach3 USB Interface board fit in my redleaf, in lieu of the breakout board that came with it?

To determine the status of your order, simply log in and click on the "[My Account]" link at the top of the page. If you purchased as a guest, you will need to call the office to determine the status and get the tracking number for your order.

The office phone number can be found by clicking "Need Help?" is located at the top right of all buildyourcnc.com web pages.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I placed an order for a 4th axis with tailstock on Wednesday and was just wanting to check on the shipment status. I'm needing the item early next week and need to confirm that it will arrive in time. Thank you.

I recommend using a an output terminal to turn on and off the laser for safety. All you need to use is the M7 (or 8) to turn the laser on and M9 to turn it off. These M codes are use in conjunction with the output terminals to control external devices. The last Pokeys57CNC tutorial part explains this concept. You can use this idea with your controller.

https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

Click the link to add information to this solution:
How do you configure usb cnc and the mk1 board to toggle the laser? I use jscut.org to create gcode files and am wondering if I create a setting to disable the laser when it goes a certain distance above 0 on Z+.

If you purchased the spindle from us, you should have received a little booklet that shows all of the program settings. If you did not receive that booklet, please call us so we can send you this booklet.

If you have the booklet, please let us know specifically what setting you would like to set and we can help.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I need the drive setting for the 1.5kw spindle drive to work with the spindle motor where do I find them

If you want speed control, it is recommended to use the RS-485 connection on the VFD and use the control program such as Mach3 to communication serially with the VFD using this RS-485 connection.

If you would rather use a controller such as the PMDX-107 to simulate the effect of a potentiometer using the Aref, Aout and Agnd and the Rev/Dir and Fwd/Run terminals to control operation and direction, you can connect those to the VFD.

PMDX-107 Aout connects to the VI (analog voltage in). This is like the wiper on a potentiometer.
PMDX-107 Agnd connects to the ACM terminal on the VFD for Analog common.
PMDX-107 COM connects to DCM terminal on the VFD for Digital common.
PMDX-107 Fwd/Run connects to the FOR terminal on the VFD for Forward.
PMDX-107 Rev/Dir connects to the REV terminal on the VFD for Reverse.

Refer to your PMDX-107 manual to correctly configure your dip switch settings and make sure to calibrate (tweak) the speed control using the trimmer next to the terminals on the PMDX-107.

Click the link to add information to this solution:
I purchased the 4.0kw spindle and VFD a while back, and have just installed a PMDX-107 controller... do you have any examples of the wiring connections for the SL-240EE to PMDX-107?

Yes, you will need a sensor to determine the speed of the rotation. For instance, you can use a hall effect sensor and put a magnet on the shaft of rotation. By installing the hall effect sensor near the shaft that contains the magnet, you can use this to determine the RPM of the axis and reflect this value in Mach3 using an input in your controller and setting that input in the index line item of the Mach3 input signals dialog box.

Here is a great video that shows the circuit and process:

Click the link to add information to this solution:
You can set the Index input with Mach3 Turn and check that the Index is lit on the screen, but it is not reflected in the rotation speed. Is there any way?