Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

All things related to the Centroid Acorn CNC Controller

Moderator: cnckeith

union7
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 5:50 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by union7 »

I'm considering buying an Acorn kit.

With Mach 3 I am able to write a Macro to send serial comms out of the USB port and then using an RS232/RS485 dongle I can talk to one of my microcontrollers. This useful for expanding into complicated automation beyond what any given controller board is designed for.

So can the Acorn system do this?

The Acorn system seems superior to Mach3 and some other board in most ways...however please stay on topic at least until my question is answered. ;)

Will the Acorn software let me write a Macro to send serial comms out of the USB port ?
martyscncgarage
Posts: 9912
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:01 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by martyscncgarage »

Can you give an example of what you need to do? What kind of machine do you have, how is it configured? A few pictures would help too.
Reminder, for support please follow this post: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
cnckeith
Posts: 7166
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
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DC3IOB: Yes
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CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
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Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by cnckeith »

no modbus, for more complicated machine tool integrations i recommend the Centroid "OAK" cnc control board.
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
union7
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 5:50 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by union7 »

OK thanks.

So none of the Acorn software free/pro/ultimate can't do Modbus ...or serial

I'll send an email to centroid, I expect some of their higher level systems software Iif not Acorn) can do modbus/ or serial.
cnckeith
Posts: 7166
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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Oak CNC controller: Yes
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DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by cnckeith »

Please tell us what you're trying to accomplish.. we can run a wide variety of auxiliary components whole number of different ways.. what are you trying to do beside use the modbus protocol? What actual Machine Tool function would you like to control?
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
union7
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 5:50 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by union7 »

CNCKEITH, thanks for the help are you an official Centroid rep?

(Just asking so I can avoid sending redundant emails to Centroid for official answers)

I specifically need to know about the modbus/ serial capabilities as I require serial comm ability to talk to custom boards that I make.
Don't need to know about the boards other capabilities, at the moment, although I appreciate the suggestions, It would be better to stay on topic (for now)

At some point I may share some of the expansion functionality of these boards, but the the control possibilities are essentially infinite.

I'm trying to stay on topic until i get a definitive answers on the serial capability....which you may have answered already IF you are an official Centroid rep! ;-)

I've sent an email to Centroid, so if there are no official definitive answers posted via this forum and I get one via email I'll update here for the community knowledge base.

[i hope i am not coming off as harsh..i appreciate the help]
cnckeith
Posts: 7166
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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Oak CNC controller: Yes
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DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by cnckeith »

Hello.
yes I am an official centroid rep.
and I agree let's stay on topic ...
And you still haven't answered my question☹️ so we can stay on topic!
What machine tool functionality are you trying to accomplish? Yes the possibilities are endless so please be specific.😁 Thanks. Keith.
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
markcadcam
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 2:15 pm
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CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: Xenia Ohio

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by markcadcam »

I too will need to find a way to communicate to my turret control board on my Hardinge HNC lathe. Presently I’m using a Deskcnc controller and software but I plan on moving to the Acorn board which I ordered this morning. The Deskcnc controller sends out by way of serial data to my controller on what number tool to change to. My controller receives this info and carries out the tool change. What options do I have with the Acorn board to accomplish sending data to my controller?

markcadcam
union7
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 5:50 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by union7 »

I'm hoping they will add some form of serial to the centroid Acorn software, then it will be non-brainer purchase for me, without it though it's a roadblock for me.
Last edited by union7 on Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
cnckeith
Posts: 7166
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Acorn serial or Modbus via host PC USB port

Post by cnckeith »

great..what do you want to do with the serial communication?

there are some future plans to add more i/o by several different means.
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
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