Tiny Controls · Own design
Parallel Port Break-out Board (PP-BOB3-V1)
Parallel port breakout board for connecting a PC-based CNC controller to stepper drives and machine I/O.
Overview
A parallel port breakout board sits between a PC running CNC software and the machine itself, converting the DB25 connector into screw terminals you can actually wire to.
That is the practical job: a parallel port has the step, direction and I/O signals a machine needs, but they arrive on a 25-pin D connector that is impossible to wire reliably by hand. The board brings each signal out to a terminal, so drives, limit switches, an emergency stop and a spindle relay each land on their own connection.
It suits PC-based control software such as Mach3 and LinuxCNC, where the PC generates the step pulses and the machine is wired to the port.
If you would rather not keep a PC running beside the machine at all, the TNC-M03 and TNC-M04 are standalone controllers that execute G-code themselves and need no parallel port.
See the datasheet for the pin assignment before wiring.
Supplied by Tiny Controls in India.
Specifications
| Axes | 4 Differential Output |
|---|---|
| Digital outputs | 14 |
| Supply voltage | 24 V DC |
| Axis drive type | Step / Dir |
| Digital inputs | 5 |
| Analog output | 0-10 V isolated |
| Relays | 3 on board |
| Max power consumption | 0.5 A at 24 V |
| Weight | 40 g |
Downloads
Questions
How many axes will it support?
Our product record does not state the axis count or the pin assignment. See the datasheet on this page, or ask us before ordering.
Does it work with Mach3 and LinuxCNC?
It is a parallel port breakout, so it suits PC-based control software generally, including Mach3 and LinuxCNC. The software generates the pulses; this board makes them wirable.
Do modern PCs still have a parallel port?
Most do not, which is worth checking before you build a machine around one. A standalone controller such as the TNC-M03 avoids the problem entirely by executing G-code itself.
How does PP-BOB3-V1 differ from PP-BOB2-V2?
Both are parallel port breakouts from the same family. Our records do not state what separates them — please ask before ordering.