Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
Moderator: cnckeith
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Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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?
Does anyone have an opinion on this?
Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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.
See http://www.cncsnw.com/AIOUpgrades.htm for some examples.
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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.
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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?
Is there a modern upgrade to the SERVO1 drive unit you recommend?
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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
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
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
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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.
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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.
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Re: Moving from M40/CNC7 to Acorn
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
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
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
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- Posts: 9914
- 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
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
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
We can't "SEE" what you see...
Mesa, AZ
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- 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
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:
Here are the requested pictures:
Last edited by rustbeltinnovations on Wed Oct 20, 2021 11:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.