Update from older software version

All things related to the Centroid Acorn CNC Controller

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LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Hi folks,

I recently bought a lathe with an Acorn setup. It's an Emco with servos and an 8 position turret. I haven't cut anything yet as I'm still setting it up and working out some electrical kinks. It's all working at this point.

My question is:

I'd like to buy an MPG pendant (not doing very well jogging via the touch screen, among other things) but the version of CNC12 that is installed is 4.13 and it needs to be updated. What are the gotchas and risks updating from an old version? Do I risk breaking some custom config and finding myself with a non functioning turret, lose servo/encoder configuration or anything else that might render my setup inoperable?

Trying to be careful.

I do have backups.

Thanks,
David
martyscncgarage
Posts: 9912
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:01 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Update from older software version

Post by martyscncgarage »

LeChuck wrote: Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:00 am Hi folks,

I recently bought a lathe with an Acorn setup. It's an Emco with servos and an 8 position turret. I haven't cut anything yet as I'm still setting it up and working out some electrical kinks. It's all working at this point.

My question is:

I'd like to buy an MPG pendant (not doing very well jogging via the touch screen, among other things) but the version of CNC12 that is installed is 4.13 and it needs to be updated. What are the gotchas and risks updating from an old version? Do I risk breaking some custom config and finding myself with a non functioning turret, lose servo/encoder configuration or anything else that might render my setup inoperable?

Trying to be careful.

I do have backups.

Thanks,
David
David, can you post pictures of the machine, of the control cabinet and please post a report here.
F7 Utilities, F7 Create report
We can then see what version software you are running.

First thing you should do is get a USB stick and copy the CNCT directory to it as a back up.
Reminder, for support please follow this post: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Hi Marty. Here are some files.
Attachments
report_F045DA7CF01E-0604180968_2021-04-14_10-33-26.zip
Report
(269.25 KiB) Downloaded 96 times
Control box
Control box
CNC12 screen
CNC12 screen
Lathe
Lathe
LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Also, the machine is being backed up to a USB stick. I also did a full copy yesterday to store it on my main PC, which is backed up live to the cloud, just in case.
LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Actually I'm seeing now that the page for the MPG pendant says it requires CNC12 4.12+ so it should work with mine, but it says 4.20 in the PDF.
Last edited by LeChuck on Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Update from older software version

Post by cnckeith »

hi. good that you made a fresh report.zip, i also always copy the entire cnct directory onto a usb stick and save on another computer/hd as an additional back up.

next i would make windows screen shots of all the Wizard set screens and save them in same folder as the backup cnct directory.

then rename the cnct directory to cnct_413

then install the latest version of cnc12 for lathes

use the Wizard to setup the machine tool configuration (use the basic info you have from the screen shots from the older version, steps per rev, turns ratios , etc..etc..)

install the new ATC lathe turret PLC program. compare the current configuration and wiring of the turret to the ATC turret plc program and make any adjustments to the configuration to get it to match.

this will bring you up to the latest version with all the latest features and bug fixes.

All Acorn documentation is here. viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
(including the ATC plc programs)
and install/upgrade instructions
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Update from older software version

Post by cnckeith »

the machine is running on beta software! definitely update to the latest version here..
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... loads.html

videos here.
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=5313
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Thanks Keith. I'd like to update, just don't want to break a working precision system. The turret in particular worries me. If something doesn't work, I can just restore the original cnct folder, right? Unless there is also a firmware update involved...
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Update from older software version

Post by cnckeith »

yes, but you don't' want to go back to 4.13 dev test software or even 4.13.. so many improvements have been made since then.
short term pain for long term gains. we are here to help. along those lines....free support for v4.13 has ended and there is no factory support at all for running old betas :-)) and most any issue you run into with v4.13 the answer is going to be update to the latest version so we are all using the same software and can help you.

firmware is handled automatically by cnc12 each time you start a different (new or old) cnc12.exe the correct Acorn firmware will automatically be loaded.
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
LeChuck
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:56 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: F045DA7CF01E-0604180968
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Update from older software version

Post by LeChuck »

Yeah...the turret thing worries me though. I don't understand how that works and how to get it to work with the new software version. It's my understanding that this is custom. I'm seeing a turret files folder but I don't know where those files go. I see some of them inside the cnct folder but not all of them. Do they just get overwritten? The name of the PDF inside that folder is ACORN_rev3 CUSTOM 4 BIT GRAY CODE TOOL TURRET. It's got a tool settings files, I'm just not seeing any of that in the main cnct folder. How are those turret files used?
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