Motion control with 3 independent spindles on router

[Sword]

That processor is borderline at best with a single thread score of 1581. Doesn't say if the monitor is 1080p. You'd be better of looking into one of the "Tiny" pc's that have been mentioned on the forum, something in the i5 6500 series.

[ShawnM]

I’m with Scott on this one, that’s not a good pc to buy. The single thread rating is poor and it has a old school SATA hard drive. Get a pc with a newer and faster processor and a SSD hard drive. Make sure it can display 1920x1080.

Please be careful with YouTube, there are SO MANY old and outdated videos on there for the Acorn series controller and a lot of them aren’t even revenant to todays software. YouTube is not the best place to learn this stuff. The forum and the Centroid website have the latest info, wiring diagrams and manuals for you to follow.

[goldriverww]

Thanks guys... guess I'll root thru the forum & see what's an acceptable alternative.

[goldriverww]

How about this?

Dell OptiPlex 7040 Small Form Factor PC, Intel Quad Core i7-6700 up to 4.0GHz, 16G DDR4, 512G SSD, Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GN ... 5XZKP&th=1

[centroid467]

How about this?

Dell OptiPlex 7040 Small Form Factor PC, Intel Quad Core i7-6700 up to 4.0GHz, 16G DDR4, 512G SSD, Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GN ... 5XZKP&th=1

That should serve you well!

[goldriverww]

Thanks! WHEW... I went ahead and ordered it! I'm getting there!
Wouldn't/ Couldn't be this far along without you guys on this forum!
Hopefully, I'll learn enuff to actually return the favor to someone else who has questions at some point.
Tracked down the leads to the pneumatic cylinders... now just have to figger out how the "switch-over" between the spindle motors happen.
(must be something regarding switchover from the VFD)

Then (hopefully) I'll be in a position to make my list of items needed from Centroid... Acorn kit, additional I/O (if needed), probably the pro software (after a trial run).
Question... I understand the x, y, z axis controls... and spindle speed, etc, ... but where in the program/system would the additional controls such as pneumatic cylinder; and 3 different spindle activation (for individual operation 1 at a time of course) be located or placed for access from the keyboard or via mouse. Would additional control buttons appear? Or would they be hidden somewhere?

[centroid467]

Switching the spindles in the CNC program would probably be custom macros similar that are similar to tool changes. You could then modify the Virtual Control Panel to have always visible buttons that call those macros to switch spindles manually. There will have to be underlying PLC changes. We've got documentation for all of that and you'll be able to get help from the fine folks here for most of it. Centroid offers PLC modification service and so do some dealers.

As far as hardware goes, I am guessing that the white contactors directly underneath the spindle drive are what switch between the motors. You'd have to trace it out to find where they are controlled from.

[goldriverww]

Thank you... as always.

[goldriverww]

Okay... in a moment of desperation... I thought I'd focus on getting that "dinosaur" NcStudio control system up & running so I could devote some "quality time" to familiarizing myself with the Centroid Acorn control system.
However, after a week+ awaiting some assistance from the fine folks at Weihong in China, and 5-6 email exchanges with their version of "support"... I find I'm still stuck in the mud and their opinion is that the NcStudio card "might be broken..." haha
They suggest replacing it with their latest version (at a cost I won't mention right now) and it would take a couple of weeks to arrive.

My point is that, as I've always thought... it's better to keep it "local" and simple.
That said... I'm "all in" with the plan to go with the Centroid choices...

So... before I start tossing $$$ into it... I'd just like some clarity on what I need to order.

I have the Windows 10 pc on its way.
I have the 4 x 8 CNC with 3 independent spindles (2 of which are solenoid actuated individually on pneumatic cylinders) and it is a vacuum table with a new pump (on the way) which will be operated separately... no need to integrate it currently.

SO... I'm assuming I simply (hopefully) need to order the Acorn CNC Controller?
Any additional relays or modules needed (in order to have the cylinders & spindles function individually?)
And in a previous reply... the always helpful CENTROID467 indicated there would likely be "underlying PLC changes" needed... so in another display of ineptitude... may I ask what that will entail?

I realize I'm being redundant with my questions... and appreciate the patience and understanding that's been offered so far.
However, truthfully, I've consumed so much info on the subject, I need to get back to basics in my Q&A endeavor! haha

I just want to avoid the potential hassle of buying something that's not going to function, hence continuing down the rabbit hole I entered when I bought this 4000 pound boat anchor! lol

Once again... thanks to all any anyone who can offer some insights... and keep me from losing what's left of my sanity!

[Gary Campbell]

Not being a programmer, and with all due respect to those who are, and having built and serviced multiple head machines, I do not see any reason that you need any custom PLC programming.

You will need to write a custom M6 macro that does the following:
1) Use tool numbers 1,2 & 3 to select relays that turn on the head plunge solenoid and transfer analog speed and FWD signals to the correct VFD. I have used 24v coil 4PDT relays for this in the past
2) Apply G52 X & Y offsets for T2 & T3
3) Apply stored "H" heights for each of the tools

Of course, adding some PLC programming may make the process more elegant, but I'm a hack and just make stuff work.