Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!news.Vanderbilt.Edu!news
From: HEAGYWS@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu ()
Subject: C and the printer port?
Message-ID: <1994Jul17.153810.18312@news.vanderbilt.edu>
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Date: Sun, 17 Jul 1994 15:38:10 GMT
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I am currently using QuickBasic and the OUT 888,xx command to control
the parallel printer port of a PC.  The port is connected to a 
stepper motor controller.  The whole setup is pretty simple...all I need
to do is pulse one or two lines high and low to control the direction
and stepping of the motor.  It works fairly well using QB, but I am sure
the stepping speed is being limited by the language I am using.  I'm
currently running the software on a 386sx, so I'm sure a faster machine
would also improve the situation...the problem is that after the software
is finished, it will most likely be run on 286 type machines.

I was considering porting the software to C or assembly and was wondering
if anyone is aware of the commands used to access the printer port (I
am particularly interested in the C commands) for this type of work?
Also, if you have any other ideas how I could increase the stepping speed,
I would be glad to hear them.

Thanks...Win
heagyws@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu

