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Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2024 10:33 pm
by AdamDee
I have a small YouTube channel sharing projects I make on a PM30-MV CNC Mill controlled by Acorn. I recently posted a video of how I use the Acorn - Everything from turning it on, homing, setting tool offsets w/ a probe, setting WCS w/probing routines, running a program, and modifying feature sizes on a part with diameter offsets.

For anybody interested:


Feel free to jump around w/ chapters/skip the intro!

In the video I mention cost as the only "down side" of the Centroid system. One of my viewers pointed out that you get what you pay for, and I couldn't agree more. Not long after, cnckeith sent me an email complimenting my channel & offering help with anything I need - and has been helping me with updates & sharing a ton of useful knowledge, that will no doubt improve the way I use the acorn. Ya.... you sure do get what you pay for! Thanks, Keith! :D

(apologies if I've posted this in the wrong location!)

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2024 5:22 am
by silver2row
Nice.

Does Centroid have post processors for Atom 3D? It is an Alibre product. I bought years ago and I am just getting into it. I started to make parts and I can make step files with it.

Seth

P.S. Learning all the time...I like the video. I learned some. Thank you.

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2024 2:00 pm
by cnckeith
thanks for posting, great video. got to get you on a Centroid Probe.

Adam has also done one of the best videos i've seen on how to use probing to pick up "hard" locations on a part and reverse engineer it in the CAD/CAM system using the location data he got from putting the part in the CNC machine and probing it using the Centroid Probing cycles.


Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 4:08 am
by Black Forest
Yes a very good introduction to the Centroid Acorn. One thing I don't agree with in the video is Adam stating that the Acorn system is expensive. If one values their time at all the Acorn is a no brainer. The ease of installation and support is priceless I think. The combination of hardware and software from the same company is the best feature of the Centroid products. No one blaming the other when things don't work. Pretty much plug and play. And no I am not a Centroid shill. I have purchased all of my Centroid products.

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:31 am
by spikee
The acorn is quite a good value tbh. Edingcnc starter set is also around the 360 mark. If one opts for linuxcnc and wants to use a mesa card (like most people do) you'll also quickly spend 200+ shipping + a whole lot of your time. GBRL is cheaper but also much more limited. So overall it is quite a nice pricepoint.

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 3:47 pm
by cnckeith
Black Forest wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 4:08 am Yes a very good introduction to the Centroid Acorn. One thing I don't agree with in the video is Adam stating that the Acorn system is expensive. If one values their time at all the Acorn is a no brainer. The ease of installation and support is priceless I think. The combination of hardware and software from the same company is the best feature of the Centroid products. No one blaming the other when things don't work. Pretty much plug and play. And no I am not a Centroid shill. I have purchased all of my Centroid products.
thanks! we are trying hard to keep Acorn affordable as possible for the grass roots CNC community.

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 3:48 pm
by cnckeith
spikee wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:31 am The acorn is quite a good value tbh. Edingcnc starter set is also around the 360 mark. If one opts for linuxcnc and wants to use a mesa card (like most people do) you'll also quickly spend 200+ shipping + a whole lot of your time. GBRL is cheaper but also much more limited. So overall it is quite a nice pricepoint.
thanks! i'll add Acorn = Made in America! software and hardware from one source.

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2024 10:35 pm
by suntravel
Nice Video.

One main reason Linux CNC is cheaper, is that the commonly used 7I76EU Mesa is usually out of stock, so nothing to pay for 🤣

https://store.mesanet.com/index.php?rou ... uct_id=399

Uwe

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 7:17 pm
by lavrgs
Maybe Centroid could find and promote a $200 touch probe. I have a couple of the drewtronic probes and just checked it to my ring gauge to within 0.0005. It's not particularly fragile - i've broken a stylus and dialed it back in. I'd guess they must be a small company because when you call them you talk to a human without a phone tree :mrgreen:

Re: Video Walkthrough of How I Use the Acorn

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:02 pm
by cnckeith
lavrgs wrote: Sat Apr 27, 2024 7:17 pm Maybe Centroid could find and promote a $200 touch probe. I have a couple of the drewtronic probes and just checked it to my ring gauge to within 0.0005. It's not particularly fragile - i've broken a stylus and dialed it back in. I'd guess they must be a small company because when you call them you talk to a human without a phone tree :mrgreen:
it in the works.