Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

I have just got my lathe set up and I'm trying to do my tool offsets. I need the spindle to turn continuously so I can jog my axis and take skim cuts to do my offsets. I can not for the life of me figure this out. How do I make the spindle turn without running a program? Thanks.

How are you controlling the spindle On/Off now? Are you using the Acorn's relay board? I'm not at my test bench, so I can't see the VCP options; but, if you're using the relay board and if you've assigned spindle On to an output(s), you can use MDI to control the spindle manually. M3 turns the spindle ON (clockwise rotation). M4 turns the spindle ON (counter-clockwise rotation). M5 turns the spindle OFF. That works if you've assigned those functions to the Acorn's outputs with Wizzard.

If you're using the Acorn's relay board to control the spindle, you could also add an external STDP switch or an external relay to the spindle for manual control. I'm attaching a simple schematic to show one way to wire that switch or relay. In the schematic, I'm assuming that the spindle uses 120VAC. Other voltages or control methods would require other manual over-rides.
.

If you have wired the spindle according to Centroids schematics, then just press the spindle auto/man button so you are in manual mode, press the green spindle start button, and use the "+" and "-" buttons to adjust the speed.

I'm using the really board. Thanks for the help. I have set the spindle to manual and I have it working now.