Torchmate
CNC
I/O
Expansion
Board
Guide
6
Connectors & Capabilities
The addition of the USB I/O Expansion Boards adds connectors and capabilities to the signal
generator unit. The capabilities include 32 input and 32 output lines, 2 analog output
voltages for spindle speed control or other level control functions, 2 analog inputs for
sampling continuous voltage levels and 1 channel of spindle speed monitoring using single
ended or differential quadrature encoders.
Rear Panel
A new rear panel is provided with the kit to replace the standard signal generator rear panel.
The new panel allows external access to four of the connectors on the USB I/O Expansion
Board as shown in Figure 4 below.
Figure 4: USB I/O Expansion Board Rear Panel
External Connectors
The USB I/O Expansion Board provides four additional connectors to the rear panel of the
signal generator as shown in Figure 4. The new connectors are labeled “INPUT 9-16”,
“OUTPUT 9-16”, “ENCODER” and “ANALOG”. Each one is described below.
Input Lines 9-16
This connector carries eight input lines, representing logical inputs 9-16 in the Torchmate
CNC software. The most common use of the input lines is for limit or safety switches.
These lines are all TTL and CMOS compatible and are optically-isolated. When a switch is
open, its input signal is high (+5V). When the switch is closed, its input signal is grounded
low (0V).
Figure 5: External Input connector pinout
as viewed from rear of Signal Generator.