Acorn 5.3 uprgade from 4.8 help with Tool Touch Off! <resolved>

[xmlsurfsx]

Thanks ShawnM

I don't have screenshots of 5.3 because I had to reinstall 4.8 to keep my machine in production.
Over the weekend I will reinstall 5.3 again to troubleshoot and take screenshots.
I do appreciate the help and support!

Mark

[xmlsurfsx]

So I installed the 5.3 Router version with the same result as with the Mill version, except now my license isn't valid? Do I need to go back and install the Mill version to utilize my license?

My tool touch off is NC, a cheapo from Amazon about 2.45 inches tall at the point of opening

Attached screenshots of where I am stuck:
https://gyazo.com/73706776ce7119e142cec662cd534307
https://gyazo.com/f133133f2eb5a00cf8649d66b17d464a
https://gyazo.com/d41b60307bb267d7ed9b4b5eabdd003e
https://gyazo.com/825ea0824f1e3d52f4814ae72f54c367


dang I don't see how to attach my report file?

report_E415F6F7742D-1204204101_2025-07-05_10-54-14.zip

(1018.85 KiB) Downloaded 4 times

I think this is correct?

Thanks!

Mark

[CentroidFrog]

So I installed the 5.3 Router version with the same result as with the Mill version, except now my license isn't valid? Do I need to go back and install the Mill version to utilize my license?

Your Mill license is only valid with the CNC12 Mill software, it won't work with Router.

Regarding your 3rd image, You'll want to also have a "ToolTouchOffDetect" input.
I know you don't have a TT-4, but here's a schematic showing hooking it up with an Acorn:
https://www.centroidcnc.com/dealersuppo ... 087.r2.pdf
This could help give an idea of which wires to hook where with the TT you have.

[xmlsurfsx]

Ok so thanks for all the input here!

I re installed the 5.3 and upgraded to the Router license now.
Everything is back up and working.
I did take CentroidFrog's tip and wire up the 'ToolTouchOffDetect"
My cnc was built by Forest CNC and i guess it was them that setup the button "sense Z" which would tap my touch off then retract to the home height.
I can't seem to figure out how to give myself a macro on my screen to do that.

I can however go through the part setup menu and "auto" my z height which stops at the z height of my touch off tool. Then i have to move it up out of the way and all is good from there.

Currently on my skin the button says "auto Z to plate" which doesn't really do what i need

I give up for now on this, thanks to the forum for the tips

[ShawnM]

Currently on my skin the button says "auto Z to plate" which doesn't really do what i need

I give up for now on this, thanks to the forum for the tips

That button on the VCP will touch off the tool using your movable tool touch off anywhere on the material surface or machine bed. The stock Centroid function also does a double touch and sets the height automatically.

Did you configure the wizard page correctly for the touch plate?

You don't need a "tool touch off detect" input configured for it to work. I do router retrofits all the time with fixed and movable tool touch offs and have never configured an input for that. I only configure "detects" for touch probes, never tool touch offs, fixed or movable.

[xmlsurfsx]

Did you configure the wizard page correctly for the touch plate?

Maybe this is my issue? Is my mechanical tool touch off considered a touch plate for this case?
Do I configure as if it is conductive in that part of the wizard?

https://gyazo.com/06c132ed7cb10f121ee9555ca838a153

This part of the wizard doesn't seem to apply?
Do I set the height to my touch off tool? (it's 2.4645" h)

[Ken Rychlik]

Go look for a few videos on youtube. Watch the one on skins. It shows how to assign a button to a purpose, macro, or whatever. Then search on your system and you can find the folder that button points to. You might can change what is in it or replace it with your old one.

[ShawnM]

On the last machine I retrofit I had a FIXED and MOVABLE mechanical tool touch off. Both were identical devices. The FIXED one was setup in the wizard as a tool touch off and permanently mounted on the tool rack and the MOVABLE one was setup as a touch plate, even though it is a mechanical tool touch off with a plunger at the top. I do not use solid plates for touching off tools as they damage tools.

In the Wizard the FIXED tool touch off was setup in the TOOL TOUCH OFF page (because you can input its fixed position on this page) and the MOVABLE tool touch off was setup in the TOUCH PLATE page. Even though it's technically NOT a plate this is where I set it up.

If I were you I'd do the same and setup your MOVABLE mechanical tool touch off on the TOUCH PLATE page in the wizard.

Be sure and set the input that you have it wired to to TOUCH PLATE TRIPPED. You do not need to waste an input for TOOL TOUCH OFF DETECT unless you for some reason plug and unplug this device from the machine. Typically this is hardwired and rides on the gantry X axis with the Z axis so it's always there when you need it.

Then when you use the AUTO Z TO PLATE button on the VCP it will touch off to your mechanical tool touch off.

Let us know if this works for you.

[xmlsurfsx]

In the Wizard the FIXED tool touch off was setup in the TOOL TOUCH OFF page (because you can input its fixed position on this page) and the MOVABLE tool touch off was setup in the TOUCH PLATE page. Even though it's technically NOT a plate this is where I set it up.

If I were you I'd do the same and setup your MOVABLE mechanical tool touch off on the TOUCH PLATE page in the wizard.

Then when you use the AUTO Z TO PLATE button on the VCP it will touch off to your mechanical tool touch off.

Let us know if this works for you.

This is what I was confused about!

I set my #6 input to "touch plate tripped" instead of "tool touch off triggered" which is what my previous configuration used

https://gyazo.com/4b7f4a466e41deb5e651095771352a2a

Now the "auto z to plate" button does what i wanted it to!

Thanks all for the help, now I can proceed with some other upgrades using the Router license that I purchased, configuring my touch probe, thinking of tackling an ATC setup

[ShawnM]

You WILL want to configure an input for "probe detect" to enable the safety features in the software for touch probes when you install yours. It will keep you from destroying the probe.

A rack mount ATC is a piece of cake with the new software. What ATC spindle do you have?