Acorn and CPU Specs?

[tpetricek]

What happens if the CPU doesn't meet specified single thread speed mark of 1500? Are their any hallmark behaviors to look for? My HP all in one only scores 1200 on the CPU PassMark list and I would like to blame it for random errors. This is what happens...I can cut a part out perfectly then on a second run it randomly chooses to skip steps. Always seems to be at the middle to end of the part but not the same place. Does this sound like a CPU problem?

[Centroid_Liviu]

Are you using any type of smoothing? It is hard to pin down issues due to lack of processing. Are you getting any kind of faults? Can you try just running the middle to end without the beginning?

[cnckeith]

lots of older posts on this subject

[Gary Campbell]

When you are experiencing issues with a "less than spec" PC, your first course of action should be to replace it with one that is up to the task. Once that is done, if the issue still exists, it should be easier to diagnose.

[tpetricek]

Thank you all for your responses.

I already have a new PC on order and should have it built up with clean Win 10 install this week. It should far exceed the specs and has NVMe SSD as well. I have run several more tests with spindle off and can hear when things stop running smoothly. There are no faults displayed. No smoothing. When inspecting the gcode from Vectric VCarvePro 9.512, the 3 tabs create hundreds of steps over very short distance and it sounds rough at those points. Smoothing may help that but I just took them out. After several more tests, the errors occur throughout the project and not just at end as I previously thought. When running task manager to monitor CPU, this computer goes from idle 3-5% usage to 65-70% CPU usage with just CNC12 running. Spikes are hitting the 100% range during program run but doesn't immediately correlate with hearing the machine skip. I also moved the gcode file off my network drive to ensure that wasn't causing lag.

I am taking the advice to upgrade PC and retest before investigating motor drives etc. However, I have already checked pulse width specs and found an interesting note in the two page driver manual that indicates 100kHz max signal. This seems low when it says on page two the pulse duration should be no less than 1.2microsec. That math doesn't seem to add up. At any rate I have set the Acorn to the lowest 200kHz setting. None of this impacts me because I am using a direct drive ballscrew setup and never exceed 1000rpm at 1/10 microsteps or about 35kpps.

Some basic machine specs:
Roughly 24x48in
Ballscrew direct drive 5mm pitch on all XYZ. Dual driven on Y. Software pairing. HiWin and generic rails.
2.2kW VFD and 3.5kW spindle (automationtech just kinda sends you whatever they have in stock but in each case they sent an more expensive part)
KL8060E drivers set at 5.4A and 1/10 microstepping
Automation Tech NEMA 34 motors rated at 5.5A
Acorn with MPG

[Gary Campbell]

You should ALWAYS be running your files from a local hard drive.

[martyscncgarage]

There is no excuse to use a dedicated PC.
I use Lenovo M92P Tiny PC, there was a recent thread on an HP that met the specs WITH Windows 10 and WITH a Solid State Drive for well under $200.
The reason I love the Lenovo Tiny, is they are so plentiful. I have them on the shelf ready to go. If one throws craps, I slide it out of the cool chassis that are availble for them, slide in a new one loaded with the correct version of CNC12, Restore a Report (You DO keep copies of your reports on a USB memory stick don't you?) and Bingo, up and running again in a couple minutes.


JUST DO IT!

Nothing wrong in connecting to a network drive to pull files off but don't point the control TO a network drive to RUN the file. (Just echoing Gary's comments)

Centroid's smoothing feature requires the faster processor.....

Also, could you be more specific about "Randomly chooses to "skip" steps? Please show pictures of your machine, tell us what type of Axis drives and motors you are using, part numbers, what voltage axis power supply you are using. We can't "SEE" your machine and setup. Show pictures of the problem part.

Marty

[Ken Rychlik]

Are you using square tabs or 3D. Square should be less code.

[tpetricek]

Thanks again for the input.

This was the first part cut at 50ipm. No errors.

Revised the part a bit and recut at 60ipm. Everything is good until the last 2 passes and you can see how it moved the outside profile out about 0.0625in

This part is finally to be in 1/2in acrylic but I was testing on scrap in this trial. The errors occur in the larger hole but the outside profile cut correctly. The outside profile was the last cut and it is the correct size and position.

I will post more more detail about drivers etc but have to respond to a work call.

[tpetricek]

From My previous post:
Machine basics:
Roughly 24x48in
Ballscrew direct drive 5mm pitch on all XYZ. Dual driven on Y. Software pairing. HiWin and generic rails.
2.2kW VFD and 3.5kW spindle (automationtech just kinda sends you whatever they have in stock but in each case they sent an more expensive part)
KL8060E drivers set at 5.4A and 1/10 microstepping
Automation Tech NEMA 34 motors rated at 5.5A
Acorn with MPG

Now Specifics:
Steppers: (4) Automationtechnologies KL34H280-55-4A. 5.5A. 1.8degree. 0.43 Ohms Res.

Drivers: (4) Automatiointechnologies KL8060E. Powered by dual 500W 48V power supplies. Drives set at 5.4A nominal 1/10 stepping. Step/Dir(+) jumpered to 5v side of dual voltage power supply that came with the acorn. Step/Dir(-) to the appropriate H2/H3 terminals. Enable not used.

Acorn powered by the supply that came with it. Nothing else on that 24v side.

NPN NC Proximity switches in series to In2 and paired axis In3 but not activated. These are powered by DIN mounted 24V supply. Waiting on CNC12 to be updated to use paired axis switch for squaring. No other limits installed yet. Using software limits which seems to be working nicely.

E Stop NC to In1. Works as expected.

Relay board that came with Acorn configured for spin FWD /REV. Works as expected.

VFD control on Analog 0-10V and working properly via gcode.

SimPhoenix 2.2kW VFD. 3.5kW air cooled spindle from automationtechnologies (www.han-qi.com) model GDF46-18z/3.5

DIN mount 12v supply for 200mm cooling fan. Control box has bottom mounted household air filter and fan at top.

Still trying to figure out how to save a config file from CNC12 or the wizard so I can post it and transfer to the new PC.