Multiple Acorns run from same computer

[David Buchhauser]

Is it possible to use cnc12 installed on a single computer (pc) to control two or more individual Acorn controllers with different configurations. For example:
cnc machine #1 - Avid pro 4848 or similar gantry style cnc router

cnc machine #2 - 3 axis cnc mini mill

Thanks,
David

[tblough]

You should be able to keep two reports, one for each acorn/configuration, and just restore the appropiate one for the acorn currently connected.

[frijoli]

Just FYI, an Acorn Compatible PC is about 120 dollars. Minus the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

[David Buchhauser]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for your reply. I figured there was an easy way to do it. I had my pc connected to my Avid cnc router and it was working fine. I have swapped out the Avid controller and replaced/upgraded it with the Acorn. I have a small cnc mini mill that I wanted to get going. I did order a cheap pc from Ebay, but it had not yet arrived so I changed the Wizard settings (on my existing windows 10 pc) to match the min mill and it works fine. The problem was when I reconnected this pc to my Avid/Acorn machine. I changed all the Wizard settings back to the original values and now the Avid won't run. I uninstalled cnc12, then did a fresh install and it still has the same problem. I am doing homing/auto squaring which worked fine before. Now it starts the homing cycle, then hangs and the motors don't run. I will look it over some more to see if I missed something in the Wizard setup. I had taken a screen shot of each page of the Wizard setup, and that is what I am looking at to put the original values back into the Wizard.
Thanks,
David

[David Buchhauser]

I solved my problem by hitting the "Restore Drive Defaults" button and then re-entering my values for
Input 1 - Home All - NO (normally open)
Input 2 - Slaved Home Input - NO (normally open)
Input 8 - EStop OK - NC (normally closed)

Even though the Wizard was showing these same values before I hit the "Restore Drive Defaults" button, there must have been some problem that wasn't evident to me from just looking a the Wizard setup pages. From this experience, my conclusion is that it will be much simpler for me to have 2 separate computers - one for each Acorn. That was my original intention anyway.
Thanks,
David

Desert Hybrids Precision
Tucson, Arizona
www.desert-hybrids.com

[swissi]

David,

an even quicker way to switch between the 2 machines is to make a copy of the C:\cncm folder after each machine has been configured (e.g cncm-avid and cncm-mini).

Before you start CNC12, just rename the folder with the name for the currently attached machine to cncm and everything will be right there without the need to restore any reports. When you switch over to the other machine, rename the cncm folder first with the name of the machine you remove and rename the folder with the name of the newly attached machine to cncm. That way you will always save the latest version for each machine.

Hope this helps.

-swissi

[David Buchhauser]

Thanks for that information. That does sound easier and quicker than having to restore a report and then restart the computer.
David

[martyscncgarage]

Dear gosh, buy a computer...all that would drive me bat schidt!
$150 PC no aggrivation....

[David Buchhauser]

Marty,
Go back and read the whole thread!
David

[martyscncgarage]

Marty,
Go back and read the whole thread!
David

I did, and read that you had intended on using separate PC's but this topic comes up time and again.
Glad you are squared away.