4th Axis on second Parport

Hello, at the moment i use a 3-Axis TB6600-Board + 1 separate driver for 4 axis (2 stepper for x and one for y + z)
I want to add a rotary-axis now and use the pins of the second parallel-port for a-axis. Its not possible to use the 3-Axis-Ports because it has 3 relays on it the block the ports for another axis so i need to use another cnc-breakout.
Ive tried to add the stepper in stepconf without success. Everytime i add the second parport the parport-driver gets unavailable and i need a reboot to get the system working again. So i tried to get the system working by manually modify the hal + ini and i got it to work that axis 1-4 work again but axis 5 ( the newly added on parport2 ) is not working.

The driver needs an enable-signal and maybe that could be the problem. How do i add a second enable-signal for the A-Axis to the second parport-pin 14?
What do i need to do to add the signals for the parport2 to the servo and basic-threads? only add the parport or do i need to add any signals too?

If i use stepconf and only add the second parport and configure the enable-signal and step/dir the stepper is moving without problems..

Ive attached the 2 config-files. Maybe someone could give me a hint..

Thank you

Ive already found the right address 0xcd00 for the new parport and 0xcf00 for the one where the rest is connected. I can configure the new parport with the stepper and it runs in stepconf. But when i try to add both parport stepconf is "killing" my parport-driver and i need a reboot to get it working again. I cant add the A-Axis to the second parport as well. Stepconf cant add additional axis to the second parport.. only to the first.

Ive uncommented the lines already. It was a mistake to upload the version with comments. I know that adding to the threads is a must..

Regards, Jan

As it is stepconf doesn't allow the second parport to be used for step/direction signals.
This is just because I couldn't test if it works and it's quite a bit of work to add.

saying that - it should not crash if you select a second parport.

What was the difference between stepconf's HAL file and the one you modified to work?
The ones you supplied seem highly modified so it's had to pin point differences.
It may be easier to make a plain config to debug with first.

I would like to isolate the 'it crashes my paroprt driver' from 'it doesn't make my A axis move'

Chris M

Hello Chris,
ive read the wiki of stepconf again and i think the problem i had, is the field where the second parport-adress needs to be entered.
Its not really clear where the address of port 2 has to be entered unless you are reading the wiki line by line

Is it right that i need to enter the address of port 2 in the port 2-layout where the 1 is entered by default (as in the attached file)?

If you need help with testing step/dir for the second parport i could help you.
I think many beginners would have it much easier with stepconf.

A question for the topic..
Ive tried to
net aenable => parport.1.pin-14-out
Tried to invert that signal too without any change.

Why do i need xenable?
xenable is already set for the first parport.
Is it possible to set it for the second as well or do 2 signals collide?

Ive tried to get the axis runing yesterday again and ive seen that the stepper is enabled already. I cant turn it by hand so the amp hast power and holds it..

Regards, Jan

Ok Thank you for the help.
I will try that out in a couple of hours. Need to get that working before i buy the real a-axis.. only have a single stepper on it and want to get sure everything is working.

parallel ports are numberd from 0 , so for 2 parallel ports you would have 0 & 1

Ive tried to make a plain new config for 4 axis and it worked. I entered both addresses of the parport (0xcf00 for the first breakoutboard and 0xcd00 for the second breakoutboard) and edited the pins for the 4th axis by hand and it worked. now the challenge is to find the difference between my config and the one ive created freshly.

So stepconf is ok and there is no "killing parport".

Thanks guys!

Regards, Jan