Only 1 axis responds after initial setup

Hi everyone! I am new to CNC, EMC2, and fairly new to Linux.

My Y-axis responds (not completely sure correctly yet), but my X and Z-axis do not even energize the motors, let alone move them.

I am using the following components:
Controller – TB6560 3-axis and spindle (not using spindle)
Motors – Vexta PK266-2a. 1.8 degree or 200 step. 6 wire (only 4 used; black A+, yellow A-, red B+, white B-, blue and green not used).
Power supply – 115v AC input, 24v DC 6.5a output.

When I wired it up and first energized the system, there were 3 lights on the controller board, when going through the step config one light went out. I originally did not know what to put in the parallel port settings that corresponded with the “X-axis enable” that was in the step config. I found a post that stated you needed to substitute “amplifier enable” and tried that. The Y-axis then responded after that, but the X and Z did not. There are still two LEDs lit on the board.

I am guessing the issue is either:
the parallel port settings in the step config
motor wiring (not likely since Y responds)
wiring (possible that there is a loose connection somewhere in both X and Z)

Can I randomly change the parallel port settings without causing damage to the controller or motors?

I have attached a composite photo of the step config windows and the documentation that came with the controller.

You need to do a lot more explaining before anyone will/can help you.
What have you tried to troubleshoot it your self?
What is different between the axis that works and the one that doesn't.

When I initially did the step config nothing responded, but I was expecting that to be the case as the X-enable was not a setting on EMC2 step config (this enable feature also applied to the Y and Z axis). So, I seached some more and found a posting that said to choose the amplifier enable in place of an axis enable. I did that and only the Y responded. All axis are configured the same. But, when you look at the pin out on the parallel port, it is not logically laid out like most I have seen and makes me wonder. What I don't know is if I decide to systematically attempt to figure out the pin settings to see if that is the problem, do I risk damaging the controller or the motors?

That is a true statement. Parallel cable hookup from computer to controller. The configuration that I am using is the pinout provided by the driver board manufacturer, but I am not getting a response from the X or Z axis motors. Being new to this, I am reluctant to just go blundering around for fear of burning out the controller or motors. I am thinking of swapping the motors connectors around since I know that the Y is moving, move it to the X or Z to see if it responds. Then that would narrow down that the pinout is correct, but the motor or wiring is not.

On a 6 wire motor (2 phase 2amp), is it common to not to use 2 of the wires?

I also looked around on eBay last night at the listings fro the 3-axis TB6560 board and noticed that one guy advertises to buy from him because he provides a full solution. In that solution I noticed he has a home/limit switch cable included. Mine does not. What does it take to put a home and/or limit switch on you machine? Does that require adding equipment? Or just a software solution?

Thanks John, I will take a look at that. I have an open PCM/CIA and will look into doing that.

Has anyone tried using a USB-to-Parallel cable? Will it faithfully reproduce the pinouts or does EMC2 and MACH 3 have issues with those cables?

Paul

USB-parallel adapters will not work well for driving step motors for a couple of reasons:

1. USB is fairly high latency, mS of latency when uS latencies are needed

2. I don't think there is a working real time USB driver for EMC

I tried swapping the Y and the Z axis output cables from the controller to the motors, when I did the Z axis motor worked just like the Y did on the Y-axis connector. When I energized the X and Z axis via the test feature on step config, I could hear the Y axis motor emit a high pitch electronic sound (not like it was physically trying to turn). Initially when I powered up the controller after swapping the Y and Z axis cables, one of the 'three axis work LED' (see original post with controller board photo) lights was on and went off after I used the test feature in step config.

I am thinking since the light was lit on the first LED indicator and the Y-axis moved, that I might have the Y-axis cable hooked to the X-axis connector. But, that still doesn't fix the other two axis'.

Even more so I think that my Chinese pinout documentation is wrong for this controller board.

Paul

I have been searching for different pinout configurations and even tried a couple, but no luck so far. I did get the LEDs to blink and even go solid, but no motor movement.