Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

All things related to the Centroid Acorn CNC Controller

Moderator: cnckeith

rustbeltinnovations
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1549
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes

Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by rustbeltinnovations »

Has anyone "upgraded" an older Centroid-retrofitted machine with the old M40 control to a new Acorn setup? For the parts I produce, the limited file size on the older controller is starting to become a real pain in the rear. I am considering ditching the old M40 and SEM servos for Acorn with steppers, or potentially keeping the servos and replacing the SERVO1 drive with something newer.


Does anyone have an opinion on this?
cncsnw
Posts: 3763
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:48 pm

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by cncsnw »

If your servo motors and encoders are in good working order, it would be simpler -- and in my opinion yield better results -- to upgrade using an Allin1DC unit.

See http://www.cncsnw.com/AIOUpgrades.htm for some examples.
rustbeltinnovations
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1549
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by rustbeltinnovations »

The Allin1Dc was what I initially looked at, but seems cost prohibitive for a machine I only have $3000 into at the moment. That being said its still something I am considering.
rustbeltinnovations
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1549
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by rustbeltinnovations »

Although I can see how the price would be comparable if I kept the SEM servos vs changing over to stepper motors.

Is there a modern upgrade to the SERVO1 drive unit you recommend?
cnckeith
Posts: 7166
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: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by cnckeith »

The "All-in-1-DC" as the name implies has the DC servo drives built into it. 😁 3 axes of digital DC servo drives along with a PLC with 16 optically isolated inputs and 9 relay outputs, 0 to 10 analog out and 6 encoder inputs. This is a very cost-effective unit!
Modern Ethernet communication so you can run a Windows 10 PC and use the latest CNC-12 software that supports the virtual control panel and the wireless MPG.


https://centroidcnc.com/centroid_diy/al ... oller.html
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
rustbeltinnovations
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1549
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by rustbeltinnovations »

I realized that after I sent the message! My next area of concern is the age and condition of my servos. They are every bit of 20 years old. So is it more cost effective to potentially have these rebuilt (i hear its expensive), or buy a set of stepper motors and go that direction. Stepper motors will be cheaper to replace, and more plentiful in the long term I feel like.
eng199
Posts: 372
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 11:29 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Location: Howard, PA

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by eng199 »

Do the servos still work well? If so, I wouldn't worry about any sort of rebuild. I would take beat up servos over shiny new steppers any day.
martyscncgarage
Posts: 9912
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:01 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by martyscncgarage »

How about some more information
Pictures of the machine in question
Pictures of the control cabinet
Does the machine currently run now with the older Centroid control?
I would with little question retrofit what you have with All in One DC. The DC brush servos are already on the mill. You disconnect from the old control, and connect to the new All in One DC.

Going to Acorn you would be essentially scrapping the current DC brush servos and closed loop system.
Unless the machine is clapped out, just because you bought the machine for $3k, doesn't necessarily invalidate an upgrade to All in One DC.
It may well increase its value.

Give us the BIG picture.

Marty
Reminder, for support please follow this post: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
martyscncgarage
Posts: 9912
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:01 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Location: Mesa, AZ

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by martyscncgarage »

Dear gosh, don't go to open loop steppers....at least closed loop AC servos or Closed loop steppers.
Again, I think you'll be time ahead in going with All in One DC

I also did a comprehensive video series on All in One DC. Search my youtube channel

Marty
Reminder, for support please follow this post: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
rustbeltinnovations
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 19, 2020 3:37 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: No
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 1549
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: No
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes

Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn

Post by rustbeltinnovations »

I would use closed loop steppers for sure. Your videos are what got me thinking about this. Machine DOES run with current controller. It had an intermittent problem, which I believe was a dirty fiber optic cable.

Here are the requested pictures:
IMG_1580.JPG
IMG_1421.JPG
A44699BD-8FF0-4C73-89AD-CE1FB8CB03C0.jpeg
6767C31D-E4EE-453E-B7E6-97D582BA98C2.jpeg
Last edited by rustbeltinnovations on Wed Oct 20, 2021 11:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Post Reply