Trying to configure my Mill ... UC400ETH

[FerrumD]

Hi

I've recently purchased the UC400ETH trying to get my cnc mill to run.

it's a 3-Axis stepper motor driven thing that has a parallel port interface ... the machine originally was designed to be used with mach3... albeit the previous owner ran it with LinuxCNC... when I got it I was able to get it to run with LinuxCNC and actually get it to do mill... but the PC that came with the machine was essentially museum-grade and really bad. Also I wasn't too fond of LinuxCNC for numerous reasons.
And not to mention needing to run it through a PC with a parallel port, which is extinct on newer models and well even if I'd add a Parallel PCI/E card - Win 64bit wouldn't support it...
so long story short: enter the UC400ETH.

here's where I stand:
I have connected the UC400ETH to the machine's parallel port... all fine.
I've connected and configured the UC400ETH to the LAN Network...
set up a new computer with Win11/64 and connected the UC400ETH (it gets recognised and all)
Installed the UCCNC Software that also recognises the UC400ETH....

Then I went ahead and imported the XML config file that was originally meant for mach3 into UCCNC... so far all good.

But here's where I run into an issue:
NOTHING MOVES.
So whilst say, when I click on "HOME" the display starts to change the positional number... the Axis won't move at all.
Same for trying to "jog" ... no actual movement on the machine.
The other weird thing is this: the SPINDLE gets the "run" signal... so the spindle actually spins... but I CAN NOT STOP it... (manually with a switch on the machine, yes... but not in the software....)

Just my temporary TEST SETUP....

[dezsoe]

You connected the ribbon cable to port 2 of the UC400 but your configuration uses port 1.

[FerrumD]

You connected the ribbon cable to port 2 of the UC400 but your configuration uses port 1.

Ok... thanks.

however when I swap the connection on the UC400 I get this:

and nothing I do gets it gone... RESET as I may - nothing makes it go away.
and none of the limit switches is actually triggered ... neither is the e-Stop

here's the diag screen

[betelgueze]

Try clicking the button "Override Limits" over the button "Cycle Stop". And then click Reset button.

[FerrumD]

Try clicking the button "Override Limits" over the button "Cycle Stop". And then click Reset button.

This didn't work - I had actually tried it....


however I think I'm one step further... without movement still:

I've disabled the "Active Low" on the E-Stop... and now at least the error is gone...

however despite all "looking" operational: there's still ZERO movement on any Axis....

What does the "active Low" actually do?

Any other ideas how to get the steppers to dance?

[FerrumD]

OK ... I got it to MOVE yay!

one more issue: HOMING, starting with the Z - ist in the Wrong direction (it should move up - not down)...
The Y doesn't move either...
but at least it's starting to move....

[dezsoe]

Set the dir positive checkbox at the Z home input. This means that it will search for the sensor in the positive direction (up).

[FerrumD]

Set the dir positive checkbox at the Z home input. This means that it will search for the sensor in the positive direction (up).

Thanks - I'll try it tomorrow ... I think I can get things running soon

[FerrumD]

Ok I have it almost all working.

Somehow I think I've managed to kill one of the X-Axis Induction proximity limit sensors... so homing is not working on the X.. and it ignores the limit switch (it used to work, but had an issue and I had to take the table off, and probably did something silly...). but I have a pair of sensors at the shop, can see if it's the cause of the issue tomorrow.