Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

I took it upon myself to create a very basic video series on Acorn.
Hopefully it will help those new to the DIY CNC Hobby and Acorn and even those who have basic CNC control experience but might be getting started with Acorn. I rigged up a linear slide I had with a stepper motor with a 12 tooth timing pulley, a ballscrew with a 24 tooth timing pulley, and a home/limit switch. I will go over as much as I can from the very start to finish.

If there is something you would like to see or an explanation on, I will certainly try to add to the video series if I have the resources to do it.

I'm doing this to the best of my personal ability. Double check things, research, ask questions, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
Your machine and your safety are up to you.

Marty

Centroid Acorn CNC Basics - Intro, Configuring WIndows 10 for CNC12 Software, Installing the Acorn CNC12 Software, wiring to the power supply, and power up.

updated unboxing video.


Marty's original unboxing video.

2 Centroid Acorn CNC Basics - Win 10 PC Setup and benchtest


cnckeith adds.. here is updated CNC12 v4.5 installation video.

3 Centroid Acorn Basics - N.O. vs. N.C. Switches & E-stop Contacts

12-20-18 cnckeith writes...this is a Legacy Video covering how to add an aftermarket relay board to Acorn, the information still applies but in October 2018 Acorn kits started shipping with a relay module adapter kit that supersedes the relay board covered in this video. If you have the Acorn relay module adapter kit, please follow this setup guide.
http://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_diy ... _8_kit.pdf

and now continuing with Marty's presentation....

This jumps ahead a bit but goes over adding an NPN 6 Channel 24VDC Relay output board to Acorn's 6 outputs without relays.
I also discuss using one of the relays on the board to control a MUCH larger relay, like a very large dust collector or vacuum table. Anything over the relay's 10Amp contact rating. Basically use the relay to control a large contactor coil.

Enjoy.

While I tested an inexpensve Chinese "OMRON" Encoder copy, this video does demonstrate setting up an encoder in the Wizard properly.
What to do if your spindle is turing one direction but your encoder says its going in reverse.
Note, its not a good idea to spin an encoder with a drill motor as I do, and this particular encoder needs to be attached to a jackshaft with a flexible coupler, supported on both ends with a bearing. The jackshaft can carry the timing pulley belted at 1:1.

On with the "Show"

Component Overview

If you "Bricked" your Acorn, that is, the power led is steady (Left of the Ethernet port) but you have no 1 pulse per second heart beat LED (To the right of the Ethernet port) then this video is for you.

If you find that that there is no power LED or hearbeat LED on your Beagle Bone Green(BBG). STOP!

Don't be so quick to assume that it has died!

Do some trouble shooting procedures first:
1. Disconnect the ethernet cable from Acorn
2. If you have removable headers (Acorn Hardware Revision 3) unplug ALL but the power connector
3. Power up Acorn and see if the power led comes on and heartbeat returns.
4. If it DOES, then power it down and plug the Ethernet cable back into BBG and retest. If heartbeat is present, try and start CNC12 to see if it comes up (communication established)
If heartbeat DOES NOT come up with everything disconnected from Acorn, but the power led on Acorn does, then proceed to the debricking procedure.
If your BBG is dead, then you may order a Beagle Bone Green from a supplier of your choice, and then perform the debricking procedure to load the Centroid firmware back on Beaglebone.

If you have an older Acorn hardware revision, take a picture of which terminal your wires go, mark the wires and disconnect them follow the procedure outlined above.

If the Acorn heartbeat comes on and then goes off as the PC boots, disconnecting the ethernet cable may help diagnose this.

Lastly, if no heartbeat, pull BBG off the Acorn mainboard and power it up via the mini USB port on BBG as if you were going to debrick it. Does it boot up and heartbeat LED come back? If so, could be an issue with the Acorn board.

Just don't be so quick to assume BBG has died without doing basic test procedures first. I have been through about a dozen+ Acorn builds and haven't had one go bad on me yet. But I have had the heartbeat not come on, and found it was something OTHER than BBG.

Video 5 - Erase Board Exercise:

Video 6 - Wiring up a Single Axis to Acorn on the bench