Point And Click Confusion

I am trying to set up a new system using the Mesa 5i25 along with a 7i76 (just one). I previously used the parallel port so this is quite a bit different. I went through the point and click configuration and am unable to get any movement on the motors. I am a bit curious if I may have misunderstood the IO configuration pages. The tabs are labled I/O Connector 2 and I/O connector 3. I assume these refer to TB2 and TB3. On each tab is a column labeled "Num" which I assumed was the pin number. What makes this confusing is that the pin numbers don't match the I/O connectors nor the function sets. For example, I/O connector 2 has no options for step and direction in the software and the pin number 25-33 shown in the software is invalid. I have attached the screenshots if that helps.

One other item that isn't clear to me. I am supplying 5V from the 5i25. I have nothing hooked up to the field power right now but I am also not making use of any I/O other than the step and direction. Is this ok? I just assume it is but...

Other than that, it seems to recognize the card, my LED (CR1) is lit. My amplifier is working (using leadshine tuning software). Just seems to be something minor with my configuration.

I went back and selected a different firmware. This time I selected 7i77_7i76. I don't understand how this is different from the 7i76x2 - With One 7i76, but it gets me I/O connector tabs which look much closer to what I expect. I went through and re-configured with this setup but no change.... still can't get any movement. Still lost.

Mesa 6i25+7i76+7i78

What must i select firmware fot the upper configuration ? And how can i define for six axis ? My mechanical is based on stewart platform.

These are configuration pictures and questions.

I am a beginner user for linux and linuxcnc. In addition i am a mechanical engineer so i have a weak electronic substructure. Thanks for your help.

For a 5i25 you must use the firmware that it is already programmed with.

The numbers are _not_ the physical pin numbers but are the component numbers.
You must look in the Mesa 5i25 manual to convert them.


The 6i25 and the 7i78 are not supported directly by pncconf.
You could select the 5i25 7i76X2 and then change all the 5i25 to 6i25 manually.

I would suggest to use the most current pncconf if it isn't all ready.

Chris M

Does the pnc wizard actually modify the firmware? I was under the impression that the only way to do this is to use the mesaflash tool. Also, is that actually choosing a different firmware or are those just various configurations of the hostmot2 firmware that comes pre-installed on the 5i25?

I also don't see these component numbers in the 5i25 manual. I understand now that connector 2 and 3 is referenced to the 5i25 and not the 7i76. I do see the "FUNCTION" from the manual seems to jive with "NUM" on the I/O Connector 2 tab. However, I don't see how the "NUM" on the I/O Connector 3 tab meshes with anything for P3 in the 5i25 manual. Regardless, I feel more comfortable with my settings as they were in my screen shots now.... then again, I would expect something to move.

I loaded up LinuxCNC with the settings as I have them shown and I jogged around while having the meter hooked up to the DIR pins on the 7i76. I expected to see the signal invert when reversing directions on that axis but I do not. Executing dmsg yields the following:

[58871.776143] hm2: loading Mesa HostMot2 driver version 0.15
[58871.778352] hm2_pci: loading Mesa AnyIO HostMot2 driver version 0.7
[58871.778448] hm2_pci: discovered 5i25 at 0000:03:06.0
[58871.778742] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: Smart Serial Firmware Version 43
[58871.834812] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: 34 I/O Pins used:
[58871.834817] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 000 (P3-01): StepGen #0, pin Direction (Output)
[58871.834820] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 001 (P3-14): StepGen #0, pin Step (Output)
[58871.834822] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 002 (P3-02): StepGen #1, pin Direction (Output)
[58871.834824] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 003 (P3-15): StepGen #1, pin Step (Output)
[58871.834826] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 004 (P3-03): StepGen #2, pin Direction (Output)
[58871.834828] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 005 (P3-16): StepGen #2, pin Step (Output)
[58871.834830] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 006 (P3-04): StepGen #3, pin Direction (Output)
[58871.834832] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 007 (P3-17): StepGen #3, pin Step (Output)
[58871.834834] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 008 (P3-05): StepGen #4, pin Direction (Output)
[58871.834836] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 009 (P3-06): StepGen #4, pin Step (Output)
[58871.834838] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 010 (P3-07): IOPort
[58871.834840] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 011 (P3-08): IOPort
[58871.834842] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 012 (P3-09): IOPort
[58871.834843] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 013 (P3-10): IOPort
[58871.834845] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 014 (P3-11): IOPort
[58871.834847] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 015 (P3-12): IOPort
[58871.834848] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 016 (P3-13): IOPort
[58871.834850] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 017 (P2-01): IOPort
[58871.834852] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 018 (P2-14): IOPort
[58871.834853] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 019 (P2-02): IOPort
[58871.834855] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 020 (P2-15): IOPort
[58871.834857] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 021 (P2-03): IOPort
[58871.834858] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 022 (P2-16): IOPort
[58871.834860] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 023 (P2-04): IOPort
[58871.834861] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 024 (P2-17): IOPort
[58871.834863] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 025 (P2-05): IOPort
[58871.834865] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 026 (P2-06): IOPort
[58871.834866] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 027 (P2-07): IOPort
[58871.834868] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 028 (P2-08): IOPort
[58871.834870] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 029 (P2-09): IOPort
[58871.834871] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 030 (P2-10): IOPort
[58871.834873] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 031 (P2-11): IOPort
[58871.834875] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 032 (P2-12): IOPort
[58871.834876] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: IO Pin 033 (P2-13): IOPort
[58871.834927] hm2/hm2_5i25.0: registered
[58871.834930] hm2_5i25.0: initialized AnyIO board at 0000:03:06.0

This looks like what I expect it to look like so I think I have actually configured this correctly. However, I am not getting any movement.

No, they do have the option but if you leave the inputs floating the drive is enabled. I have left mine floating. The drive is definitely enabled as the windings are energized.

I am using the Leadshine DM856. It has optocoupler inputs. Judging by the manual I see no reason I can't drive these with a differential signal which is what I prefer to do. I am currently driving them with differential signals from the 7i76 so I have not bothered to wire the common. I would still expect to be able to see the differential outputs swing with my multimeter when driving the axis back and forth.

One question I still have is regarding the power. I have not supplied any field power. I am simply supplying power to the 7i76 via the 5i25. My assumption is that since I am only using step and direction the field power is not necessary.