Build thread: Sharp TMV Acu-Rite MillPWR to Centroid

[RichieP_MechE]

Finally starting a build thread after picking this project back up that I started about 18 months ago - https://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9083

I am converting a Sharp TMV knee mill with a 2 axis Acu-Rite MillPWR controller to a 2 axis CNC with manual quill using a Centroid AcornSix. AcornSix was chosen as it supports linear scale inputs which I previously determined were needed to operate the machine in the same fashion as the Acu-Rite. The Acu-Rite works as a 2 axis CNC or as a manual machine with "DRO" mode and I intend to replicate that with this setup (thread linked above details some of my initial work in figuring this out).

I am using Leadshine ELP-*1000Z drives and servo motors with 23 bit absolute encoders and linear scales from Aikron. I also built a custom control panel to pull out some of the functions that I wanted physical buttons and switches for.

Recently I got the panel mostly put together on the bench and have started diving into getting things functional. Servos are functioning and 2 axis motion is working. Next is figuring out some issues with my control panel.

[richardb15]

That is a very nice looking button panel and keyboard/monitor mount setup With the Acorn 6 and the weight of that knee it would almost be worth sticking a servo motor on the knee drive and getting the 3 axis capability. The knee weight would keep it down on the leadscrew without needing a ballscrew I'd suspect. Anyway, looking forward to watching this!

[cnckeith]

right on, great photos, thanks for making the album and looking forward to more photos being added to it.

[RichieP_MechE]

So I am currently having an issue with my control panel and VCP that I can't seem to resolve.

In the config wizard on the VCP Preferences page, I have selected Use VCP in conjunction with the Hard Operators Control Panel
I have a Cycle Start and Feed Hold button on my hard control panel. These are normally closed momentary switches routed to inputs 4 and 5 respectively. I've set Input 4 to CycleStart2 and input 5 to FeedHold2. The switches appear to function correctly as the input lights change from green to red when the switches are depressed.

Once these parameters are written to the control config, only the physical Cycle Start button is functional. I've been testing by running the circular frame sample program. After I load the program, the cycle start in the VCP does not do anything, but the physical button will. The Feed Hold button in both the VCP and the physical panel do not do anything. If I set the two inputs back to blank status and write that to the control config, Feed hold and cycle start on the VCP function properly.

I had this issue with CNC12 v5.22 when I first started tinkering a few weeks ago, and I still have the same issue after updating to v5.24. Currently running the free version, I do have a Pro license but haven't installed it yet.

Any ideas on what is happening here? What am I missing?

[cncsnw]

These are normally closed momentary switches routed to inputs 4 and 5 respectively. I've set Input 4 to CycleStart2 and input 5 to FeedHold2. The switches appear to function correctly as the input lights change from green to red when the switches are depressed.

Blanket statements in the installation manual notwithstanding, operator buttons like these (certainly CycleStart2, but by convention also FeedHold2) should be normally-open buttons, not normally-closed buttons.

You do not want the response to a loose/broken wire in your INP4 circuit to be an automatic start of the CNC program.

I strongly recommend replacing the Cycle Start button with a normally-open button.

If you want to continue using a normally-closed button for Feed Hold, that is reasonable (and arguably better); but you will need to invert INP5, either by clicking green to red in the Wizard, or using Ctrl-Alt-i on the PLC Diagnostic display.

[RichieP_MechE]

Blanket statements in the installation manual notwithstanding, operator buttons like these (certainly CycleStart2, but by convention also FeedHold2) should be normally-open buttons, not normally-closed buttons.

You do not want the response to a loose/broken wire in your INP4 circuit to be an automatic start of the CNC program.

I strongly recommend replacing the Cycle Start button with a normally-open button.

If you want to continue using a normally-closed button for Feed Hold, that is reasonable (and arguably better); but you will need to invert INP5, either by clicking green to red in the Wizard, or using Ctrl-Alt-i on the PLC Diagnostic display.

This is good to know and makes perfect sense. I am using modular switches that I got from an auction and there were a ton of NC switch contacts so that's what I was using by default. Swapped in the few NO contacts that I had and everything now works as expected. Thanks!

[Coolidge62]

Did you make the keyboard, monitor, button panel from scratch or buy it somewhere? Great looking work btw.

[RichieP_MechE]

Did you make the keyboard, monitor, button panel from scratch or buy it somewhere? Great looking work btw.

Thanks! I made designed the operator control panel myself. I had it laser cut and bent by SendCutSend, then I spot welded it together and powder coated it. I had the button panel made by Front Panel Express.

I added a few more photos to my build album showing some of the fabrication of it. It's designed around the Asus VT168HR monitor.

[Coolidge62]

Thanks I will check out SendCutSend because that's quite slick! I had FrontPanelExpress make new side vents for head of my mill.

[Coolidge62]

I decided to shamelessly copy your design.