Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Keith,

OK, sorry, I missed the link to the PLC manual. I'll give that a read later. Thanks!

The document I downloaded is below. Don't ask me where I found it - I found it last night, and can't find it again, hence my comment about the scattered documents and missing references.

In fact there isn't even an obvious link to the whole Acorn page from the front page of the Centroid website! Logically, it should be under "CNC Controls", but instead its under "Shop Centroid DIY CNC". That's just not logical, or at all obvious...

Regards,
Ray L.

try clicking on the big picture of the Acorn board on centroidcnc.com home page:-))

and just for you i added Acorn, Oak, Allin1DC to the sub menu under "CNC controls", clear your browser cache to see the new navigation.

fyi...there are three parts to Centroid's CNC business.
Centroid Performance Racing CNC machine tools. (http://centroidperformanceracing.com/)
Centroid Turn-Key CNC controls (M400, T400, M39, T39) (http://www.centroidcnc.com/cnccontrols.htm)
Centroid DIY CNC components (Acorn, Oak, Allin1DC) (http://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_diy ... y_cnc.html)

the doc you found is simply a list G code and M codes from the Operator manual.
you will notice under "DIY CNC Support" a link to ALL manuals.

Scott started a sticky thread for all things ATC. here is the link.
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1340

I think I now understand basically what has to be done and have enough information to be dangerous!! Off to do more reading!

Thanks!

Regards,
Ray L.

A question about "stages":

1) I assume stages are executed (when enabled) in numeric order? i.e. - Stage1 is executed first, then Stage2, etc.?

2) A "Fast Stage" is defined in the same manner as a normal Stage, for example:

MyFastStage IS FSTG3

3) The only difference between the two is how often they are executed, right? A normal stage executes every ~20 mSec, and a "Fast Stage" every ~1 mSec (assuming the regular stage code completes in under 1 mSec)?

Is the convention to put all the "Fast Stage" code blocks at one place in the file (like the end?), or does it not matter where they are placed?

Regards,
Ray L.

The stages are executed in the order they are presented in code. The number is just a place holder. It doesn't matter if 2 follows 1 or not just as it doesn't matter whether your I/O are defined in sequence or even with like I/O are grouped together -though I highly recommend keeping I/O grouped and sequenced for readability and maintainability.

I've only found it necessary to use a fast stage once or twice. Before deciding to use a fast stage, I'd use PLC Detective or a 'Scope to capture the timing of your I/O to see if the events are happening as quickly as you think they are

The only place I would use fast stage is for communicating with the ATC, at which time NOTHING else wold be going on in the machine, so the overhead would be unimportant. I just need to be able to read and write I/Os with about 5-10mSec between transitions.

Regards,
Ray L.

Hi RayL, I've read over your post a few times and i'm still waiting to see what you built. All of us DIY CNC mill guys would love to see some ATC pictures or even video. I just bought a Skyfire SMV-2 machining center just to get a tool changer. Love to update my Charter Oaks CNC with a DIY tool changer.
Pictures please.

Jack

Jack,

A couple of videos here: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/novakon/1 ... ost1928758

Regards,
Ray L.

Here is a more recent one - a new system running on the test fixture, with the new 3D printed plastics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Af9tJcu-to

And here is one actually cutting metal - showing off my new home-brew tension/compression tap holders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csLaKGFvvaY

Regards,
Ray L.