parallel port on x86?

Discussion in 'UDOO X86' started by Kevin Sears, Dec 26, 2017.

  1. Kevin Sears

    Kevin Sears UDOOer

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    Hi All
    My first post!
    I want to add a parallel port (DB25) so i can connect to a CNC router I have.
    Is this possible?
     
  2. waltervl

    waltervl UDOOer

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  3. ccs_hello

    ccs_hello UDOOer

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    Using LPC is hard (too many pins on LPC side, needs 1.8 <> 3.3 translator, then parallel port needs many leads. Even a Super-I/O chip like W83527HG can't save the effort. After that BIOS has to initiate the Super-I/O chip properly.)

    Easier (but still ugly and not streamlined) is to use
    https://www.udoo.org/forum/threads/my-mega-thread-on-regular-sized-pcie-slot.7045/
    to obtain a regular PCIe form factor slot, then plug in
    a regular Parallel -- PCIe card such as Syba PEX10010.

    Bottom-line: it will be cheaper just to buy a modern MKII 3-D printer controller board and use the USB to save the day.

    ccs_hello
     
  4. waltervl

    waltervl UDOOer

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    You can use an Arduino as a driver for the parallel port of your CNC router:

    I did not watch the movie and I don't know if the software can be used on the Arduino 101 side of the Udoo X86. But it looks promising.
     
  5. Gizmozs

    Gizmozs New Member

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    you could maybe use a usb to DB25 cable, Amazon sells them for about $20 canadian.
     
  6. ccs_hello

    ccs_hello UDOOer

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    That type of device won't work. It's based on USB's "Line Printer" (cooked device) profile.
    What the OP needed is the raw parallel port access for word banging (3+ axis Step & DIR signal toggling.)

    ccs_hello
     
  7. bodgyuk

    bodgyuk New Member

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    You might be able to use the Arduino side of the Udoo to act as a traditional parallel port or any other microcontroller programmed to emulate an LPT port.
     
  8. Weetit Wanalertlak

    Weetit Wanalertlak New Member

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    I just found this. It might help you. I did not try it yet but soon.

     
  9. ccs_hello

    ccs_hello UDOOer

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    That video's device is a $110 device: UC100, which can be viewed as a "CNC Controller Adjunct".
    Mach3/Mach4 thru plug-in will talk to UC100 in which Mach3 view it as a CNC controller.

    The brain inside the UC100 will interpret G-code and translate into motor movement.
    In another word, the heavy lifting is no longer in PC software but that $110 device.
    That device will use DB25 port signal to drive motors and take in sensor input.

    At the end of day, it's a decision that
    - stay with the old CNC motor-controller hardware, find a fleaBay $25 old Windows XP PC (main controller work is done on PC)
    - get a modern CNC controller and use a reasonable recent PC with USB capability to drive it (main controller work is on CNC controller)
    or something in between
    - stay with the old CNC motor-controller hardware, use UC100 as the CNC controller, and use a reasonable recent PC with USB capability to drive it (send G-code) <-- main controller work is done by UC100
     
  10. Weetit Wanalertlak

    Weetit Wanalertlak New Member

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    I couldn’t agree with you more. Now it is the end of the road for LPT and USB2LPT is only give it few more days. Update CNC controller is always a better solution.
     

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