Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Hello all,

I am thinking about switching from MACH3 to Centroid Acorn. After reviewing a lot of the information on the website, the only issue standing in my way is the Wireless MPG/pendant for $300.00.

My machine is a desktop machine (20" x 40" router) so there is no benefit to wireless. Is there a way to connect a MPG directly to the control?

Chris

Chris D wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:03 am Hello all,

I am thinking about switching from MACH3 to Centroid Acorn. After reviewing a lot of the information on the website, the only issue standing in my way is the Wireless MPG/pendant for $300.00.

My machine is a desktop machine (20" x 40" router) so there is no benefit to wireless. Is there a way to connect a MPG directly to the control?

Chris

No.
You can use a wired Contour Shuttle Express if you like. (Same jog pendent Tormach uses)
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... Xpress.pdf

Marty,

Thanks for responding so quick! That is not a "real" MPG but it actually looks like a pretty good device. I do a lot of video editing and that could be incorporated to that as well which would be good for "familiarity" purposes.

Thanks for pointing that out!

Chris

Chris D wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:45 am Marty,

Thanks for responding so quick! That is not a "real" MPG but it actually looks like a pretty good device. I do a lot of video editing and that could be incorporated to that as well which would be good for "familiarity" purposes.

Thanks for pointing that out!

Chris

They do work pretty well and are inexpensive.
More information:
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... uttle.html

Marty

So I really didn't understand the final answer. Can you use a wired mpg pendant? Like the ones on ebay surely you can right?

Why not go with a wireless one? It's awesome and VERY responsive. I have a friend that has a wired one on Mach and this wireless one is so much better.

cad cam man wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:20 am So I really didn't understand the final answer. Can you use a wired mpg pendant? Like the ones on ebay surely you can right?

Post an example of a "wired" pendant you are talking about.
If a USB pendant that you can program keyboard strokes, it may work somewhat. But it has to be user programmable. Contour Shuttle Express works as does Xkeys. Both are programmable keyboard emulators.

You may be able to connect a wired button pendant with an ADD16 board and create your own PLC program to act on the inputs. You will not be able to add a manual pulse generator because the Acorn board does not have an input for an MPG. You might be able to use the spindle encoder input for an MPG, but that is unsupported by Centroid and would definitely need hand modification of parameters and probably the PLC program as well. Not something the Wizard can do.

cad cam man wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:20 am So I really didn't understand the final answer. Can you use a wired mpg pendant? Like the ones on ebay surely you can right?

If you want a true MPG pendant, like the discount eBay ones, then no. You can use a wired or wireless USB keystroke emulator, but will have no control features, just keyboard

cad cam man wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:20 am So I really didn't understand the final answer. Can you use a wired mpg pendant? Like the ones on ebay surely you can right?

If you want a true MPG pendant, like the discount eBay ones, then no. You can use a wired or wireless USB keystroke emulator, but will have no control features, just keyboard

Buy the Centroid MPG pendant, it's the best