A Treatsie on the Parallel Port

Ok boot on the installed system and run the following lspci command

The other two can stay the same. And can you post the full ioport output

00:00.0 0600: 8086:591f (rev 05)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IOMMU group 1
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=10 <?>
Kernel driver in use: skl_uncore

00:01.0 0604: 8086:1901 (rev 05) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 122, IOMMU group 2
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: [disabled] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: [disabled] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled] [64-bit]
Capabilities: [88] Subsystem: 1028:0763
Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [a0] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [140] Root Complex Link
Capabilities: [d94] Secondary PCI Express
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:02.0 0300: 8086:5912 (rev 04) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
DeviceName: Intel HD Graphics
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 129, IOMMU group 0
Memory at de000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
I/O ports at f000
Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [40] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0c <?>
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [ac] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [100] Process Address Space ID (PASID)
Capabilities: [200] Address Translation Service (ATS)
Capabilities: [300] Page Request Interface (PRI)
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915

00:14.0 0c03: 8086:a12f (rev 31) (prog-if 30 [XHCI])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 126, IOMMU group 3
Memory at df310000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
Kernel modules: xhci_pci

00:14.2 1180: 8086:a131 (rev 31)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18, IOMMU group 3
Memory at df32e000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Kernel driver in use: intel_pch_thermal
Kernel modules: intel_pch_thermal

00:16.0 0780: 8086:a13a (rev 31)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 130, IOMMU group 4
Memory at df32d000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [8c] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Kernel driver in use: mei_me
Kernel modules: mei_me

00:17.0 0106: 8086:a102 (rev 31) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 127, IOMMU group 5
Memory at df328000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Memory at df32c000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
I/O ports at f090
I/O ports at f080
I/O ports at f060
Memory at df32b000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [70] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [a8] SATA HBA v1.0
Kernel driver in use: ahci
Kernel modules: ahci

00:1c.0 0604: 8086:a114 (rev f1) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 123, IOMMU group 6
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: e000-efff [size=4K] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: df200000-df2fffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled] [64-bit]
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: 1028:0763
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Access Control Services
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.5 0604: 8086:a115 (rev f1) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 124, IOMMU group 7
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: d000-dfff [size=4K] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: df100000-df1fffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled] [64-bit]
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: 1028:0763
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Access Control Services
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.6 0604: 8086:a116 (rev f1) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 125, IOMMU group 8
Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: [disabled] [16-bit]
Memory behind bridge: df000000-df0fffff [size=1M] [32-bit]
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: [disabled] [64-bit]
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: 1028:0763
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Access Control Services
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1f.0 0601: 8086:a143 (rev 31)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IOMMU group 9

00:1f.2 0580: 8086:a121 (rev 31)
DeviceName: Onboard SATA #1
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: fast devsel, IOMMU group 9
Memory at df324000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=16K]

00:1f.3 0403: 8086:a170 (rev 31)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 32, IRQ 131, IOMMU group 9
Memory at df320000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Memory at df300000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:1f.4 0c05: 8086:a123 (rev 31)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 16, IOMMU group 9
Memory at df32a000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable)
I/O ports at f040
Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
Kernel modules: i2c_i801

02:00.0 0200: 10ec:8168 (rev 15)
Subsystem: 1028:0763
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19, IOMMU group 10
I/O ports at e000
Memory at df204000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at df200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 01
Capabilities: [b0] MSI-X: Enable+ Count=4 Masked-
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 01-00-00-00-68-4c-e0-00
Capabilities: [170] Latency Tolerance Reporting
Capabilities: [178] L1 PM Substates
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

03:00.0 0700: 125b:9105 (prog-if 02 [16550])
Subsystem: a000:1000
Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 16, IOMMU group 11
I/O ports at d020
Memory at df103000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at df102000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [78] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [80] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [800] Advanced Error Reporting

03:00.2 0701: 125b:9100 (prog-if 03 [IEEE1284])
Subsystem: a000:2000
Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 14, IOMMU group 11
I/O ports at d010 [disabled]
I/O ports at d000 [disabled]
Memory at df101000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=4K]
Memory at df100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=4K]
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [78] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [80] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting

04:00.0 0280: 168c:0036 (rev 01)
Subsystem: 1028:020e
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17, IOMMU group 12
Memory at df000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Expansion ROM at df080000 [disabled] [size=64K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/4 Maskable+ 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00
Kernel driver in use: ath9k
Kernel modules: ath9k

0000-0cf7 : PCI Bus 0000:00
0000-001f : dma1
0020-0021 : pic1
0040-0043 : timer0
0050-0053 : timer1
0060-0060 : keyboard
0064-0064 : keyboard
0070-0077 : rtc0
0080-008f : dma page reg
00a0-00a1 : pic2
00c0-00df : dma2
00f0-00ff : fpu
00f0-00f0 : PNP0C04:00
03f8-03ff : serial
0400-041f : iTCO_wdt
0400-041f : iTCO_wdt
0680-069f : pnp 00:04
0800-087f : pnp 00:05
0a00-0a3f : pnp 00:00
0a40-0a7f : pnp 00:00
0cf8-0cff : PCI conf1
0d00-ffff : PCI Bus 0000:00
164e-164f : pnp 00:04
1800-18fe : pnp 00:04
1800-1803 : ACPI PM1a_EVT_BLK
1804-1805 : ACPI PM1a_CNT_BLK
1808-180b : ACPI PM_TMR
1850-1850 : ACPI PM2_CNT_BLK
1854-1857 : pnp 00:07
1880-189f : ACPI GPE0_BLK
d000-dfff : PCI Bus 0000:03
d000-d007 : 0000:03:00.2
d010-d017 : 0000:03:00.2
d020-d027 : 0000:03:00.0
e000-efff : PCI Bus 0000:02
e000-e0ff : 0000:02:00.0
f000-f03f : 0000:00:02.0
f040-f05f : 0000:00:1f.4
f040-f05f : i801_smbus
f060-f07f : 0000:00:17.0
f060-f07f : ahci
f080-f083 : 0000:00:17.0
f080-f083 : ahci
f090-f097 : 0000:00:17.0
f090-f097 : ahci
ff00-fffe : pnp 00:0a
ffff-ffff : pnp 00:04
ffff-ffff : pnp 00:04
ffff-ffff : pnp 00:04

As before, nothing in dmesg.

Not to be obnoxious, but isn't there just a known good PCIe card that I can just buy off Amazon hat just works with LinuxCNC, preferably with support already built into the kernel?

Going by the PCI Id of the card it should be supported by the std parport_pc driver.
For some reason it’s not and neither is the vendor supplied driver working.
No your not being obnoxious, it’s just frustrating, so it’s all good.
Generally NetMOS based cards are a good bet.
www.amazon.com.au/Syba-SD-PEX-NM2P-Print...hipset/dp/B000RK89ME

Something similar to the above, a little more than what the star tech cards go for, but you do get 2 PPorts on the one card.
It’s also worth trying the Parallel Port tester utility mentioned above, at least you can select which pin to test at a human readable rate.
I really wish you well it’s a bit of a journey finding a card that works.
Cheers
Rob

I can't get that board in the US, but what do you think of these:

www.amazon.com/fosa-Windows-Parallel-Pri...upport/dp/B07NVGDL65

www.amazon.com/Parallel-Express-Printers...anners/dp/B0C9PGV9FT

www.amazon.com/Syba-SY-PEX-1P-Printer-Pa...hipset/dp/B001FBEIFG

www.amazon.com/LinksTek-Controller-Adapt...IE-PA1/dp/B07SVV6K1H

I/O ports at d010 [disabled]
I/O ports at d000 [disabled]

I suspect it would work if enabled, check out this thread:

forum.linuxcnc.org/9-installing-linuxcnc...inuxcnc-2-7?start=20

Near the bottom (adouglas89s post) there is a method to enable the disabled ports.
 

The first 3 have a NetMOS 9805 (whic the wiki advises to avoid)chip and the 4th has the same Ax99100 chip.
wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Parallel_Port_Cards

Some good stuff here:
forum.linuxcnc.org/18-computer/18917-faq...-parallel-port-cards

Below are 2 NetMOS based cards I could find on Amazon US.

www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-Parallel-Prin...p%2Caps%2C681&sr=8-6

www.amazon.com/KALEA-INFORMATIQUE-Parall...%2Caps%2C681&sr=8-29

Just a bit of a thought.....
One thing that is worth thinking about, is how many parallel ports one can try before you're at a similar amount that a simple Mesa 7i92 card can be had for. Which doesn't have the need for a base thread (latency is so stringent), connects via ethernet, basically gives you the equivalent of 2 parallel ports, is very well supported and from my experience gives you a smoother running machine. With suitable firmware it is very easy to use with the standard Parallel Port breakout cards.
Another plus as well, if it comes down to it a Mesa card will have great resale value.
The ethernet connection is something to think about for later years if your current PC has any hardware issues.

Thanks PCW, I tried looking for that info last night but couldn't locate it.

PCW, that might have been a winner!

I am still running on my Live distribution because something seems screwed up with my installation and I can't re-install for some odd reason, however:

I tried:

cd / /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:03.2
sudo su
echo -n "1" > enable

Then installed the driver with io=0xd010, io=0xd000 irq=18

I went into LinuxCNC and ordered a 5mm move on X, and when I monitor pin 2, I see a series of 5V pulses that are roughly 3.5 microseconds wide and spaced about 5.1ms apart.

I tried connecting the router (CNCEST 6040 Chinese, bog standard) and...

Z-axis seemed to work, albeit it seemed like it was working in the wrong direction (is -Z = up or down typically), very slow, and probably less movement than it should have been -- I presume thi is just configuration, no big deal.

Y-axis made noise when going in the + direction like the motor was doing something but there was no actual motion. I think I may have seen the leadscrew occasionally jump. When I went in the - direction there was a constant alarm sound which stopped if I hit the "+" after a second or two. Perhaps it was hitting an endstop?

X-axis didn't seem to do anything, at all, no noise, no motion, etc.

I couldn't get the spindle to work at all from LinuxCNC although it worked through the box.

FWIW, I bought two different ones from Amazon so that I could return it if it doesn't work, however, the Startech AX99100 now appears to be "working" so that's good and it seems to have pretty decent performance.

The remaining (off topic) question is, how do I configure it? I appear to have DJK-01A BOB (which may also be called a "Tonsen 4 Aixs [SIC] Con[troller]" it's driving 4 TX14207 stepper motor driver cards, the fourth being to run a "lathe" unit and is "A."

I found this post: www.mycncuk.com/threads/6922-Tonsen-4-Axis-Controller-Bob which includes a schematic.

Is it as simple as CK = Step, and CW = direction. What about enable (is there a separate enable for Y/Z vs A/X)? Is there a way to control the spindle or is that purely from front panel?

That probably explains why my X-axis doesn't work since it's pin 16/17 not 2/3. But not the weird noises from the Y-axis.

• A
  • EN - enable - DB14 - shared with X enable
  • CW - dir - DB-03
  • CK - step - DB-02
  
  
• Z
  • EN - enable - DB-08
  • CW - dir - DB-06
  • CK - step - DB-07
• Y
  • EN - enable - DB-09
  • CW - dir - DB-05
  • CK - step - DB-04
• X
  • EN - enable - DB-14 - shared with A enable
  • CW - dir - - DB-17
  • CK - setp - DB-16

DB 10 - 11 - 12 -13 - 15 Inputs via opto couplers
DB 1 5v output marked as Motor

If I was wiring this, assuming a 3 axis mill with no rotary axis nor a slaved axis as in a gantry:
The enables for X Y Z I would not connect to the stepper motors, most simple machines use this method.
Connector A I would use for the spindle with PWM output on CK, CW for forward and EN for enable. Tho you could use CW for forward and EN for Reverse depending on the spindle itself.
Connector "MOTO" could be used for any needed output.

IMHO the naming convention for the connectors doesn't conform to the "defacto standard", Pins 2-9 for axis x-y-z-a. Honestly this looks like a poorly designed board. The 1N4007 after the 5v regulator with drop that voltage to 4.2 to 4.4 volts.
The 15v reg isn't really required if you were to supply the board with 8 to 9 volts. This would be a product I'd wouldn't be inclined t use. If you have it it should work, but you'll want to keep careful notes of the wiring.

Even the schematic isn't 100% clear What be be assumed to be resistor networks marked RN1 & RN2 are only shown as standard resistor. Generally I like to use buffers for at least all outputs, where as only the step & direction have buffers, the enables don't (which generally are controlling the same type of opto isolator on the stepper driver as the step & direction).

Not too usre if you are in the UK or US but if this is your first build I tend to opto for one of these
cnc4pc.com/c35s-breakout-board.html
I've got one at home I use for testing and found the docs, build quality & design quite good.

Sorry if I sound like a bit of a downer, but just some things I've noted.