Application Notes

This page contains the various application notes and information related to using our boards.

• General application notes (not specific to one product)
• PMDX-126 and PMDX-125 related application notes
• PMDX-106 related application notes
• PMDX-107 related application notes

General App Notes

These application notes are not related to any one specific PMDX product.

• AN-Gen-1: Mach3 Sample Configuring with 3 Axis and PWM Spindle Speed Using a Single Parallel Port (Rev 1, 21 Jul 2010)
  This application note and Mach3 XML configuration file provide an example Mach3 configuration for a machine with 3 axis and PWM-based spindle speed control using a single PC parallel port. The application note describes all of the necessary settings and how to change them if needed for your machine. The ZIP file contains the application note as a PDF file and a sample Mach3 XML configuration file. (ZIP file, 93 KB).
• AN-Gen-2: Mach3 Sample Configuring with 3 Axis and PWM Spindle Speed Using a SmoothStepper [coming soon]
  This application note and Mach3 XML configuration file provide an example Mach3 configuration for a machine with 3 axis and PWM-based spindle speed control using a SmoothStepper instead of PC parallel ports. The application note describes all of the necessary settings and how to change them if needed for your machine. The ZIP file contains the application note as a PDF file and the XML configuration file. (ZIP file, TBD KB).
• AN-Gen-3: Connecting Limit and Home Switches to PMD Breakout Boards [coming soon]
  This application note describes how to connect various types of limit and home switches to the PMD breakout boards (currently the PMDX-122, PMDX-132 and PMDX-125). (PDF file, TBD KB).
• AN-Gen-4: PWM Spindle Speed with Mach3, SmoothStepper, PMDX-125 or PMDX-126 and PMDX-106 or PMDX-107 [Rev 1, 3 May 2011]
  This application note describes how to configure Mach3 and the SmoothStepper Plug-In to generate the necessary PWM spindle speed and direction signals when using a PMDX-126 (or PMDX-125) and either the PMDX-106 or PMDX-107 spindle controllers. (PDF document, 177 KB).
• AN-Gen-5: Configuring 2nd Parallel Port Pins 2-9 as Inputs [Planned for future release]
  This application note describes how to configure pins 2 to 9 on a 2nd PC parallel port as inputs when using Mach3. This covers having two physical parallel ports installed in a PC and also covers using a SmoothStepper (in place of PC parallel ports). (PDF document, TBD KB).

PMDX-126 and PMDX-125 App Notes

Unless otherwise stated, all application notes for the PMDX-125 also apply to the PMDX-126.

• AN125-1: Controlling Machine Power with a PMDX-125 or PMDX-126 (Rev 3, 1 Dec 2011)
  This application note describes a method of having the PMDX-126 or PMDX-125 control the mains power to the motors such that power is removed from the motors under any error or emergency stop condition. (PDF document, 43 KB).
• AN125-2: Using the PMDX-125's or PMDX-126's Error Input and Restart Output with Geckodrive Servo Drivers and Mach3 CNC Software (Rev 1, 9 Sept 2010)
  This application note describes how to use the "Restart" output along with the "Gecko Error" input for automatically resetting Gecko G320/G320X/G340 Step Servo drivers. (PDF document, 35 KB).
• AN-Gen-4: PWM Spindle Speed with Mach3, SmoothStepper, PMDX-125 or PMDX-126 and PMDX-106 or PMDX-107
  See this listed under the General application notes section.

PMDX-106 App Notes

• AN106-1: Using the PMDX-106 with a PMDX-132 or PMDX-125 [Planned for future release]
  This application note describes how to use the PMDX-106 with a PMDX-132 or PMDX-125. It includes instructions on configuring Mach3 to control the PMDX-106 using a PWM output. (PDF document, TBD KB).
• AN-Gen-4: PWM Spindle Speed with Mach3, SmoothStepper, PMDX-125 and PMDX-106 or PDMX-107
  See this listed under the General application notes section.

PMDX-107 App Notes

• AN107-1: Using the PMDX-107 with a PMDX-132 or PMDX-125 [Planned for future release]
  This application note describes how to use the PMDX-107 with a PMDX-132 or PMDX-125. It includes instructions on configuring Mach3 to control the PMDX-107 using a PWM output. (PDF document, TBD KB).
• AN-Gen-4: PWM Spindle Speed with Mach3, SmoothStepper, PMDX-125 and PMDX-106 or PDMX-107
  See this listed under the General application notes section.