Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

I have a large 5' x 8' Chinese manufactured CNC router with the following major components:

• XHC MKIV Mach3 USB motion controller
• Yako 2D811 v1.1 step motor drivers and motors on rack & pinion X and Y, ball screw Z
• GDZ120x103-4.5 Spindle
• Fuling DZB312B005.5L2A single phase input VFD

The XHC motion controller has proven itself unreliable. This led me down the path of investigating possible solutions. Then, I found the Centroid Acorn. The Acorn conversion was very straight forward and was nearly a drop in replacement for the unreliable Mach3 USB motion controller my router shipped with.

Before photos:






Control cabinet after:


Operator station:




Mounted this slick wireless tool touch off probe on the router. Makes tool changes a lot faster. The tool change macro automatically measures each tool to this probe and records the offset to material surface. I only have to measure work piece height once (with a moveable probe) and this probe allows the (custom) M6 macro to do the rest.



The Centroid control is a dream compared to Mach3 on the unreliable import motion comptroller. I am very happy I made the conversion to Centroid. The conversational programming (Intercon) is something I didn't know I was missing out on. I love it!

right on! thanks for posting all the great photos, nice job with the install!

Is this basically the same machine?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Blue-El ... st=ae803_5

Did you happen to purchase from Aliexpress?

At the point your at would you go for the same machine or something domestic?

Happy with the rest of the hardware nowt that the control is in order?

There are similarities between the linked machine and mine. I bought it from Hytek Tools. They spec, imported, delivered and setup the machine. In the end, I wish I had a tool changer, servos, and so on. It's a great machine and meets my needs, but I wish I had those features. If I were buying again, I'd look at Camaster.. but I want Centroid controls. I'm not seeing anyone offering that.

My Chinese machine looks like it has the same components as yours. I just bought a computer and ordered the Acorn. Any information that you have would be appreciated

bmilam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 11, 2018 1:56 am My Chinese machine looks like it has the same components as yours. I just bought a computer and ordered the Acorn. Any information that you have would be appreciated

Feel free to ask questions. I've documented what I did here. I'm happy to help!