5i25 parport replacement - totally confused

Hi guys,

I thought I should test Pncconf for my 5i15 card. I am pretty good when it comes to Linux and CNC, but I have no bloody clue what to do with the settings in the wizard. Even though I've been searching the Internet for hours I have no idea what the settings means and which config I should start with. I've found a few pages where people show their config and still it doesn't make sense (like saying it's for a lathe and having four encoders, or a XYZ machine and 2 encoders).

I have a 5i25 only (no extra cards).
I want to replace the standard LPT port, that's all.
The backside of the 5i25 says Configuration: 7i77x2.BIT
I have downloaded the update zip-file and 5i25 (and 5i25 only) is selectable as Mesa card.

Then, the Configuration page mayhem appears...
What config should I use and which settings?

I can't be the only one using this card without an external I/O, I am surprized by the guru level needed to do this. Or am I getting too old?..

Unfortunately PNCconf doesn't work with the 5i25 out of the box.
You need to add some extra (XML) files for it to know about the 5i25
oh it seems you did that..good

after that picking 7i77x2 or 7i77x1 on the mesa config page.

You seriously just want to use the 5i25 as simple I/O, and not use any of the encoder counters?
and without analog output (the 7i77 daugther board) PNCconf is not going to work for you.
PNCconf assumes you are going to use the extra features of the boards.
It doesn't cover software stepping or software PWM.

What are you trying to control with the 5i25?

Chris M

Ok, so it's a manual config then.
Yes, I'm "only" using the 5i25 as a parallel port replacement. The CNC-controller has all features needed but the PC is the performance bottleneck (as discussed on the mailing list), which the 5i25 should change.

well if you don't use the add features of the 5i25 then you must be still using software stepping or software PWM.
Then the performance will not be that great.

Chris M

cmorley wrote:

well if you don't use the add features of the 5i25 then you must be still using software stepping or software PWM.
Then the performance will not be that great.

Chris M

Well that's what the 5i25 is supposed to do.

Well I'm confused.

If you are using software stepping or software PWM (you haven't confirmed that), then that is the most likely limiting factor.
using the 5i25 with it's hardware steppers or PWM will get a great potential boost.

Now the 5i25 will out perform the parallel port for throughput of pulses I'm sure.
But using the 5i25 with software stepping/PWM is the least effective way of using it.
and you will still require a base thread.

I think we need more information

Chris M

cmorley wrote:

Well I'm confused.

If you are using software stepping or software PWM (you haven't confirmed that), then that is the most likely limiting factor.
using the 5i25 with it's hardware steppers or PWM will get a great potential boost.

Now the 5i25 will out perform the parallel port for throughput of pulses I'm sure.
But using the 5i25 with software stepping/PWM is the least effective way of using it.
and you will still require a base thread.

I think we need more information

Chris M

It's a step/dir servo system and the bottleneck is the computer, so yes the card is supposed to manage the servo control. The whole idea is to let the card take over, yes.

ok that helps. step and direction machine.

7i77x2 firmware is for servo type machine.
in fact the 5i25 will have only encoder counters and smart serial components.
the 7i77 daughter board has the analog components.

But that's not what you want anyways you want step generators!

You want 7i76 or g540 (possibly something else) firmware. Firmware for steppers!

It maybe that your card was re-programmed and not re-labeled.
Or else you need to talk to Peter at Mesa about what to do next.

Chris M

It threw me off when you said you want to use it 'only' as a parallel port replacement.
That implies using it as simple I/O not using it's hardware step generators.

You want to use it's hardware step generators.

oh and when you do get the firmware sorted out, pncconf can configure the 5i25 with no daughter board for a hardware stepper machine.
You just dont select any signals in the smart serial tabs.

Chris M