Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

All things related to the Centroid Acorn CNC Controller

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cncman172@gmail.com
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by cncman172@gmail.com »

On the question on heartbeat this is a question. I get a flashing blue light about every five seconds, when I have the BBG unplugged from Acorn and powered via a microUSB power cord the light flashes once a second like what we would expect.

Not sure what could pull the BBG from the Acorn board, I only have three axis outputs, VFD interface, very basic. I do have the wireless MPG but that should not matter either.

Russ


cncman172@gmail.com
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2025 5:46 pm
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by cncman172@gmail.com »

As a quick check I plugged a live ethernet internet cable into the port for Acorn and did an IPCONFIG /all and it showed the static IP address expected of 10.168.41.1, with the correct MASK. Do I need to unbrick the BBG again or something?

Russ


cncman172@gmail.com
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2025 5:46 pm
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DC3IOB: No
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by cncman172@gmail.com »

Shawn,
When I unplug the BBG and power from the micro-usb port the BBG boots and then goes into the steady one second heartbeat. When I check to see if the IP shows in that situation it does NOT. Seems to me the BBG is booting and waiting for an upgrade in firmware like normal.

I am now suspicious that the DC/DC power converters that takes 24V and provide the power for the logic on the Acorn might be blown. With the BBG off and the board powered I measure 24 coming into the connector. I measured across several filter caps and no voltage. I also measured across a few logic chips and no voltage. I need to pull the Acorn out of the cabinet completely to be able to do a better job, but right now this seems to be the issue, wish that was not the case. Maybe you have another idea.

Russ


ShawnM
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by ShawnM »

Russ, I have never pulled the BBG from the Acorn nor have I ever bricked or de-bricked a BBG board. This would be above my pay grade. :D

I am assuming you are running all these test with a COMPLETE Acorn board intact, that includes the BBG. Again, I've never had to separate the two or even know how to de-brick a BBG. I hope I never have to learn. :o When you say BBG I don't know if you are talking about just the BBG or a complete Acorn board. I'm a little confused by your terminology because I treat the Acorn and BBG and ONE.

Did you run the IP Config with the Acorn plugged in and powered up? And by Acorn I mean the complete Acorn.

Have a look at this topic as well.
viewtopic.php?p=16974&hilit=debrick#p16974


ShawnM
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by ShawnM »

And this topic:

http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 496#p21496

Could be an issue with the Acorn board itself if the BBG has a heartbeat. You may have had a surge or some other anomaly that you are unaware of that damaged the Acorn. Remember, it's been a year.....or more. :D


cncman172@gmail.com
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2025 5:46 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
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CNC Control System Serial Number: none
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CNC12: Yes
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Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by cncman172@gmail.com »

The first article was good and they seem to come to the same conclusion I am at the BBG is good, but the Acorn base board has a problem. The second article is on much later versions of the Acorn that I have. Mine is the original Acorn and it does not have some of the features they talk about in the second video.

Russ


ShawnM
Community Expert
Posts: 3011
Joined: Fri May 24, 2019 8:34 am
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CNC12: Yes
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Location: Clearwater, FL

Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by ShawnM »

That's why I linked to that OLD post about he BBG and Acorn board.

On my Acorn Six machine DHCP is not enabled and Autoconfiguration is enabled so your settings are the same as mine. Mine of course shows the correct IP address as the Acorn Six is plugged in and powered up.


ShawnM
Community Expert
Posts: 3011
Joined: Fri May 24, 2019 8:34 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: 7804734C6498-0401191832
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: Clearwater, FL

Re: Acorn worked for years and suddenly stops

Post by ShawnM »

And as mentioned in one of those topics, disconnect EVERYTHING from the Acorn except the power and the ethernet cable and try it.


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