Centroid CNC Software Licensing Upgrade Announcement

[grossmsj]

As long as the upgrades come with a proper installer, I don't care what the financial part is. But if I'm going to pay, I don't want to also have to do the grunt work of a complete installation every time I upgrade. I've got all six inputs filled, most outputs, laser, rotary, ATC, CHIPS, custom VCP, and macros. It has never been '15 minutes', never 'easy peasy'. It's the better part of a day by the time everything is working properly again. You get unexpected 'feature changes' (units for rotary are changed) and sometimes bugs where you need to re-install again. No bueno.
The installer in 5.5 will make it worth the upgrade charge, for sure.

[suntravel]

As long as the upgrades come with a proper installer, I don't care what the financial part is. But if I'm going to pay, I don't want to also have to do the grunt work of a complete installation every time I upgrade. I've got all six inputs filled, most outputs, laser, rotary, ATC, CHIPS, custom VCP, and macros. It has never been '15 minutes', never 'easy peasy'. It's the better part of a day by the time everything is working properly again. You get unexpected 'feature changes' (units for rotary are changed) and sometimes bugs where you need to re-install again. No bueno.
The installer in 5.5 will make it worth the upgrade charge, for sure.

I am really done in 15-30 min for an update on a customized Acorn6 with 6 axis and scales...

... but another 2h to test Betas out an send a bug documentation.

For a bugged out public release update is really fast plus some time to get used to new features to get a benefit from them.

Anyway, doing an update manual is also some kind of free user training

I am more focused on help full new features making everyday work better than saving some time on an update twice per year.

Uwe

[lavrgs]

My normal upgrade time is measured in days...

[RJS100]

I have been using CNC12 for about 3 years. I am one of those hobbyists that spends hours playing with this stuff in my garage... and loving it. For what it's worth, this is not an inexpensive hobby and in this arena $79.00 does not go far.

As a retired business dude, I agree with the "Black Forrest" that CNC12 should be on a subscription basis. EVERY software package I use (Fusion, QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, GoDaddy, Dropbox and Corell Draw) are all on a subscription basis and range from something like $100 to almost $1000.00. I also agree that an Upgrade tool is a must, and I would be happy to pay for it.

I use CNC12 like an appliance. One installed, I just want to use it. I don't care to keep track of what parameters I have changed or what directory a macro is stored in. When it is time to upgrade, I just want to download the new version and let the installer do the rest. I would be happy to pay a bit more for this nicety.

I will surely be upgrading to 5.40 once it is available. As I am almost done building a Carousel ATC, just a few questions:

1. Can you provide a bit of description as to how the following work and if the wizard generated ATC macro will use these new features:

60. Acorn: Added a timer to Unclamping tool that will fault the system, more inline with the Hickory/Oak PLC logic
61. Acorn: Added Check in M6 Tool Rack Macros to check for if Tool is in spindle
62. Acorn: Added Drawbar Up Output (Unclamp the Tool), Drawbar Up/Down Inputs for compatibility with certain types of spindles. When both Drawbar up/Down are off, it is considered to have a Tool in spindle (Tool prohibits drawbar from reaching down position). Drawbar Up is unclamp, Drawbar down is Clamp without tool


2. Can you clarify how the following feature is used. Am I correct that if "Don't use Machine Home" is used, the machine will return to it's position before the machine was shut down?

8. The Wizard “Don’t use Machine Home” will now remember last known WCS position and reinstate that DRO position after a power cycle. Note: The Wizard sets Parameter 5, P5 has a new bit, bit 1 (add 2) will now "remember" where the machine was at at the last shutdown and rehome to be back at that position if parameter 5 bit 0 "Do not use machine home" is enabled.

Thanks... Richard

[cnckeith]

I have been using CNC12 for about 3 years. I am one of those hobbyists that spends hours playing with this stuff in my garage... and loving it. For what it's worth, this is not an inexpensive hobby and in this arena $79.00 does not go far.

As a retired business dude, I agree with the "Black Forrest" that CNC12 should be on a subscription basis. EVERY software package I use (Fusion, QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, GoDaddy, Dropbox and Corell Draw) are all on a subscription basis and range from something like $100 to almost $1000.00. I also agree that an Upgrade tool is a must, and I would be happy to pay for it.

I use CNC12 like an appliance. One installed, I just want to use it. I don't care to keep track of what parameters I have changed or what directory a macro is stored in. When it is time to upgrade, I just want to download the new version and let the installer do the rest. I would be happy to pay a bit more for this nicety.

I will surely be upgrading to 5.40 once it is available. As I am almost done building a Carousel ATC, just a few questions:

1. Can you provide a bit of description as to how the following work and if the wizard generated ATC macro will use these new features:

60. Acorn: Added a timer to Unclamping tool that will fault the system, more inline with the Hickory/Oak PLC logic
61. Acorn: Added Check in M6 Tool Rack Macros to check for if Tool is in spindle
62. Acorn: Added Drawbar Up Output (Unclamp the Tool), Drawbar Up/Down Inputs for compatibility with certain types of spindles. When both Drawbar up/Down are off, it is considered to have a Tool in spindle (Tool prohibits drawbar from reaching down position). Drawbar Up is unclamp, Drawbar down is Clamp without tool


2. Can you clarify how the following feature is used. Am I correct that if "Don't use Machine Home" is used, the machine will return to it's position before the machine was shut down?

8. The Wizard “Don’t use Machine Home” will now remember last known WCS position and reinstate that DRO position after a power cycle. Note: The Wizard sets Parameter 5, P5 has a new bit, bit 1 (add 2) will now "remember" where the machine was at at the last shutdown and rehome to be back at that position if parameter 5 bit 0 "Do not use machine home" is enabled.

Thanks... Richard

Richard,
Hello. A detailed release notes is in the works.

2.) you can do now with park feature.

8.) "don't' use machine home" and "remember wcs position" , counts on the machine not moving while it is off. we added this OEM requested feature to not require homing with an open loop system and still remember the wcs position.

[Spartan117]

I think the most important question is:
How many of your customers are making money with their Acorns?

If everyone is making money with it, maybe not too many will have problems with 80$ every year.
But if there are many hobbyists, without any yield from Acorn, i am afraid you won't keep much happy users with $80/year

I, as a hobbyist, wouldn't be willing (and able^^) to pay 80$ a year for my two Acorns. I am also sad, that my long-saved-Ultimate-license shall cost that much more for the upgrade. For me, that means i can't buy an Ultimate license again.
The Ultimate has just been a nerdy "got to have that" for me, as my lathe already had scales on it. Not needed, just "nice to have", and i saved up on it for some time, before i was able to invest such a sum only for my hobby.

And to be honest, if i would have to pay X-times 80$ to upgrade later, i would sell my Centroid stuff and get anothers company product for my machines, as this just is too much for me and only hobby. MY carbide-endmills cost around €2 a piece, the expensive and bigger ones around €20 and they are only very few I would (and could) never buy endmills for $80 for my hobby?

And btw, i also would never buy a product on subscription-basis, jtm that once, too. I also don't know much people that think different about that? Maybe this is because of my hobbyist-bubble around me, but it's true, subscription-based-expenses just aren't really hobby-compatible in my opinion.

Most people, that asked me for more details about Centroid after reading my built-reports in german forums, were shocked when i told them the prices i paid. I am NOT SAYING Acorn/CNC12 wouldn't be worth it! But if you want to hear the whole and real story, then i have to tell you, that nearly all of that people (except one single person), bought other products for their machines in the end.
DIY-CNC is only a hobby for most people here in germany, as you would never get the permission to let employees work on a self-built-machine here. You can use such machines alone, even commercial if you want to, no problem because it's your own responsibility, but as soon as you have employees, many judicial duties must be followed, machines need certificates and verifications, so you won't find such machines in bigger companies here.


I don't want to be the bad guy here, i just think, you should hear the other side, too. Most people don't write contrary opinions down for not appearing confrontative, but just go away silently without ever saying what it was that bothered them.
As i said, no offense, just my 2cents on this topic.

[cncsnw]

I will give another thumbs-down to any suggestion that Centroid should change to an annual subscription model.

Just because other companies have decided to treat their customers like sh*t, doesn't mean we should do so as well.

Buy it once, use it as long as you like. Spend a few $$ if/when you want the new version.