The e-stop should be wired like a limit switch and can also be within the same limit switch circuit. Use one of the input pins to create the e-stop circuit.

1. Run a wire from the input pin terminal to the e-stop switch red side (one of the two terminals on the red side). The red side is NC (Normally Closed).

2. Run a wire from the other side of the red side of the e-stop switch back to the gnd terminal (or to the next switch - limit switch, NC terminal, then back to gnd, or to the next NC terminal of the next switch, do you see a recursive pattern here?).

The wire that you use for the connections should be shielded and the shielding and any other loose wire within the cable should be tied to gnd.

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Hi - I have wired in a breakout board (with relay) as per suggested wiring instructions (black toe 2X4). I want to wire in an estop but need some guidance on wiring. Also Mach3 is requesting I reset the estop, which suggests its expecting one? Can anyone help? Thanks. Miles

Hi, this BBB comes with a USB port and its cable to power it up. Once connected to the computer a led in the BBB will light up to show it has power.

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Breakout board I have does not have USB port for the 5v power. Does the parallel port supply the 5V power?

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Hi, I need assistance, the parallel breakout board I received looks different from the one on the video, does this one need a 5V supply? If so, where do I connect the positive and where do I connect the ground? Thanks for your help.

To connect the stepper motor drivers to the Mach3 USB interface card, you will need to follow the wiring diagram here: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/Documents/Electric%20Wiring%20Diagram.pdf
which can be found here: https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board along with all of the other manuals associated with that interface card.

Please note that the DC+ and DC- on that wiring diagram (power supply to thye stepper motor drivers) is not correct. The DC- is connected to GND on the drivers and the DC+ is connected to VCC on the drivers. Typically, the DC+ on the power supply is labeled V+ and the DC- is labeled either COM or V-.

If you are having any issues with the wiring, please let me know and I will elaborate. Thanks.

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Yawl sold me a ST-USB MOTION CARD I have surched all your electronics and can't find wring instructions I need to know where to connect X,Y and Z to this controler

To connect the parallel port breakout board to the LEDs, use step number 18. The connections are listed at the bottom. Here it is for your convenience.

For the LED connections on the parallel breakout board:

- The x axis LED will be connected to pin #2 and 5V
- The y axis LED will be connected to pin #4 and 5V
- The laser on/off LED is connected to pin #6 and 5V

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I can't find any information in the BlackTooth instructions about how to connect the 8 wires from the LED display to the parallel breakout board. The two going to the pot seem, in the illustration, to be soldered together and to the centre terminal of the pot? Help, please.

The USB Interface page: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout

On this page, there is a datasheet that explains the connection schemes for the limit switches on step 1 of the instructions. The datasheet explains single and multiple switch configurations and parallel/serial connections schemes for the NO/NC (Normally Open/Normally Closed states).

If there is further information you need, please reply on this FAQ.

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Please provide detailed instructions on how to connect limit switches to CNC USB BOARD. I can not find instructions anywhere. I am new to cnc world and really need help. Thanks

I would not recommend slaving an axis using the method of taking an additional axis from the USB interface. Instead, wire both drivers to a single axis on the USB interface. This will insure perfect signal output to both drivers. If you requre the motors to spin in opposite directions, simply wire one of the motors to the driver reversing the coil A and B connections, or use a hex inverter (https://www.buildyourcnc.com/tutorials/Tutorial-Two-Motors-Spinning-Oppositely-On-Single-Axis).

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I purchased a USB Breakout board, motors and drivers, paid for CNC USB Controller Software and I CAN NOT "Slave" an axis, but there is an option to do that. The moment I connect USB Breakout Board "Slave" option becomes shaded and I can no longer select it (becomes not functional). What is going on? Need help asap. Thanks

Have you tried a different input pin?

Customer response:
I've tried all pins: 10, 11, 12, and 13. I get the same non-response in each case.

Recommended action
There may be a problem with the board. If you are using our parallel breakout board, we can ship you a replacement (call us), otherwise, you will need to determine the problem with the vendor of the breakout board you are using.

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I have tried 3 different breakout boards from 3 different providers and they all do the same thing My limit switches are microswitches wired NC with each axis wired to the BO Board. I have checked each circuit and all is OK to the BO board. each circuit has continuity at the board and when any switch is pressed the circuit breaks. Mach 3 does not recognise that the switches are even there. They are configured as active low Do you have a suggestion.

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I'm having trouble getting Mach3 to recognize my limit switches. I've eliminated everything back to the breakout board. I can directly connect Input 10 to GND on the breakout board while Mach3 is in autorecognize mode and Mach3 doesn't acknowledge anything.

The whiteAnt is no longer sold; the information on the website is to support legacy customers. We have spoken with you and are sending the materials that you need.

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I am having difficulty with the wiring on the White Ant. The latest electronics that I received don't seem to be anything like the book or even the tutorials. For instance, the three stepper drivers need 6 pin connectors and ribbon cable. How are they wired? There was no thermocouple wire included. Thanks,

If you have received a part that does not work as advertised, or does not function properly, we will ship you a replacement. Please contact customerservice@buildyourcnc.com to make these arrangements.

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I would like to re-order another breakout board, but I would like each output tested beofore shipping. I have recieved a breakout board where the mist coolant doesnt work, and the y-axis sends a 1.5vdc signal voltage. They should all be 5v as you know, or the driver will not read.

There are written instructions located at each component (product) page. On the page for your interface board, you will see a datasheet that shows the wiring diagram from that board to the drivers, limit switches and computer. On the page for the stepping motor that you have, there is a datasheet that shows the wiring scheme from the motor to the driver and also has the amp rating for configuring the driver.

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Also on the 3 axis combo, the last item on the tutorials page points to wiring instructions and links to videos. The (I assume) written instructions do not load and the videos seem to be unavailable

For safety's sake I would recommend a new board because they are inexpensive compared to the electronics that they support. Alternatively, it's possible that the one dead pin is a simple fix, such as a bad connection or solder joint; if you feel comfortable making those repairs then it could be worthwhile to check. Finally, if you are not using all the input pins, you could continue to operate the limit switch on pin 11 and hope for the best.

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I have a breakout board and it appears that the pin 12 connection has failed: when i move my limit switches to pin 11 they work; they don't work on pin 12. Do i need a new breakout board?

The 5V power required for the breakout board can be a simple USB male to male cable, that will connect from your computer to the board itself.
Now adding a external power supply make sure that it does not exceed a total of 5V and the standard 500 MilliAMP - 1 A.

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I have a YDH-18-5 Power Supply AC Input:100-240v 47-63Hz, Ouput: 5v - 2A and need to know if its safe to use with the Parallel Breakout Board.

The Mach3 USB interface board requires 24V relays externally. There are no relays on the mach3 usb board. If you use an external relay on the mach3 usb board, the relay connects to the V+ which is 24V and the output pin is the return.

Additional Information:
I understand what you are saying. Does your relay board work with the Mach3 USB board? If not, what relay board do you suggest to work with this usb controller?

Additional Information:
Our relay board works with our parallel breakout board. An off the shelf SSR (Solid State Relay) made for 24V should work fine.

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I bought a 'BuildyourCNC V1' relay board to go with my mach3 usb controller. I have been sent a 'Songle' relay. It's not the one in your picture and it's got different connections, for which there isn't a wiring diagram. The one I ordered says it is 5v, this one seems to be saying it's a 24v unit. Can you please explain what has happened? Thanks

The Mach3 USB interface board requires 24V relays externally. There are no relays on the mach3 usb board. If you use an external relay on the mach3 usb board, the relay connects to the V+ which is 24V and the output pin is the return.

Additional Information:
I understand what you are saying. Does your relay board work with the Mach3 USB board? If not, what relay board do you suggest to work with this usb controller?

Additional Information:
Our relay board works with our parallel breakout board. An off the shelf SSR (Solid State Relay) made for 24V should work fine.

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I bought a 'BuildyourCNC V1' relay board to go with my mach3 usb controller. I have been sent a 'Songle' relay. It's not the one in your picture and it's got different connections, for which there isn't a wiring diagram. The one I ordered says it is 5v, this one seems to be saying it's a 24v unit. Can you please explain what has happened? Thanks

The leadscrew length for the greenBull long Z-axis is 47 inches.

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BUILDING ONE OF YOUR GREENBULL 6X LONG AND 2.2 KILOWATT SPINDLE DOES NOT FIT. SEEMS LEAD SCREW YOU SENT WITH KIT IS SHORT 42" LOOKS LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE 5 OR 6 INCH LONGER. THIS CORRECT? WHAT THE NEEDED LENGTH FOR UNIT?

Our breakout board, does require 5v to operate the correct voltages coming in from the drivers and also coming in from your computer, now the 5V will be supplied by the USB connection, so no external power supply is needed, for either our USB/Parallel breakout board.

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Just for general knowledge. If a spindle gets i.e. 240VAC, and the drivers 36-50VDC for power, why do you need 5VDC for the Breakout Board (BlueBrew)? Is it only for the relay? I think I've seen other BoB's working without power supply, or am I wrong?

The fact that you cannot move the motors with the keyboard serves as a clue to a couple possibilities.

- The software may not be communicating with parallel port. (One possibility may be that your step pins are not low active, or vice versa depending on your drivers).
- You may not be in the correct tab of Mach3. Make sure you are in the Program Run tab.
- The jog on/off button on the program run screen may not be lit (invoked).

This address below shows the complete troubleshooting for this type of situation. It will show how to test each pin at the parallel port at the back of the computer and everything else associated with correctly wiring the electronics.

https://buildyourcnc.com/CNCElectronicsandWiring.aspx




Additional Information:
6 axis robot with Mach3 Card 6 Axis Motion Controller

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I have a home built CNC running Mach 3. I have power to all the motors and the breakout board but no movement when running g-code. I cannot even manually move the motors with the arrow keys or page up and down. It also has an integrated 120v receptacle showing an open ground. I don't know if all this is related.

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.

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I have the USB controller board and the 8825 step driver. I need a wiring diagram between the two. Specifically, what does the GND pin on the X-axis connect to? Also, what does the 5V pin on the driver connect to?

You can find a wiring diagram here:
https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/

The CP terminal is wired to the step terminal on the 8825 step driver.
The CW terminal is wired to the direction terminal on the 8825 step driver.
The GND terminal connects to the GND on the 8825 step driver

The 5V connector on the driver simply powers the logic side of the chip and needs to connect to VCC pin on the keyboard jog.

Customer Response:
Thanks! Working now.

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I have the USB controller board and the 8825 step driver. I need a wiring diagram between the two. Specifically, what does the GND pin on the X-axis connect to? Also, what does the 5V pin on the driver connect to?