Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

Hello Keith,

Nice to read about new features CNC12 in version 5.40 but would be nice to know when will be available such expected control VFD by Ethercat for Hickory?

greetings

Andrzej

The default answer with someone using an older version is you have to update to the latest version for free tech support. The downside, of this plan is you will have more people seeking help on older versions. Will they be told they have to pay to get the latest version, so they can get help?

One thing I think that would be helpful is if you offered paid "updates". Something like a XX dollar charge for centroid to take a report from an older system, and send you back a working report for the latest offering. The tech's should be really quick at it, and lots of people don't want to start from scratch setting up their machine. Also some people that bought a machine already set up don't have much knowledge to accomplish the task.

andrkorb wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:01 pm Hello Keith,

Nice to read about new features CNC12 in version 5.40 but would be nice to know when will be available such expected control VFD by Ethercat for Hickory?

greetings

Andrzej

its not like we haven't been trying. we have multiple models in the shop on the bench its a bit ridiculous that you can never get a simple question answered from the Manufacture of the VFD. also mfg have sent us the "new version" to replace the one we have that was supposed to fix their issue....no joy.. jeez.

so i put to you guys.. do you know of a CNC machine that is actually using an ethercat VFD ? and which one make/model are they using?

i can't keep buying every unit on the planet just to try it out.

Ken Rychlik wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:34 pm The default answer with someone using an older version is you have to update to the latest version for free tech support. The downside, of this plan is you will have more people seeking help on older versions. Will they be told they have to pay to get the latest version, so they can get help?

yep, it will still be the default answer, bug fixes are free. so upgrade to the latest version that doesn't cost anything, nothing has changed.

your v5.30 license will work with v5.40.0 you get the bug fixes and other free stuff we throw in!

Ken Rychlik wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:34 pm
One thing I think that would be helpful is if you offered paid "updates". Something like a XX dollar charge for centroid to take a report from an older system, and send you back a working report for the latest offering. The tech's should be really quick at it, and lots of people don't want to start from scratch setting up their machine. Also some people that bought a machine already set up don't have much knowledge to accomplish the task.

and yes we are going to make an updater for v5.50.0 , just can't do it with v5.40.0 as there are a lot of items in v5.40.0 that we need to get into the hands of our customers as soon as possible! updating will become easier for our customers and hopefully reduce the impediment to upgrading.

cnckeith wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:45 pm and yes we are going to make an updater for v5.50.0 , just can't do it with v5.40.0 as there are a lot of items in v5.40.0 that we need to get into the hands of our customers as soon as possible! updating will become easier for our customers and hopefully reduce the impediment to upgrading.

That's really great news! Glad to see that milestone is close.

Ken Rychlik wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:34 pm
One thing I think that would be helpful is if you offered paid "updates". Something like a XX dollar charge for centroid to take a report from an older system, and send you back a working report for the latest offering. The tech's should be really quick at it, and lots of people don't want to start from scratch setting up their machine.

I like this idea a lot!

Thanks for replying Keith.

can you clarify more on the probe licensing now wireless probing has been officially added to ultimate? i have oak with a pro license and my wireless probe and wireless TT work 100% fine. if i upgrade to 5.30 is it going to stop working and force me to buy ultimate? are there any enhancements in this new wireless probing ultimate offering that would encourage me to buy ultimate? it just says wireless probing now supported.

currently i have the probe/tt receiver enable wires hooked to 1616 outputs coupled to vcp aux keys and a bread board i made with some relays that feed probe detect INP771 INP772 when i activate either probe via the aux keys, it also has a mosfet circuit i built to invert the probe signal from NC to NO as INP769 is not easily invertible as far as i'm aware unless you get inventive in the plc and invert the logic wherever the probe is in play.



correct me if im mistaken, doesn't acorn/acorn 6 also get all those features you just listed plus the ones you removed not applicable to oak for less money? shouldn't acorn 6 drop into the oak/a1dc/hickory bracket? it can do closed loop if you add the encoder board and it feels like closed loop is the differentiator here on upgrade price.

honestly $179 really isn't a bad price for a major upgrade package i'm just complaining because acorn gets so much for so little money, but at the same time i also have another acorn controlled machine so i shouldn't complain .

you can just tell me to shut up and hand over the money i wont be offended you guys are angels compared to the bandits at autodesk what i have to pay them has more than doubled in the last couple of years and they have dropped some gnarly bugs in exchange for my loyalty.

I think this change is long overdue. There is no other company that I am aware of that has offered the support that Centroid has offered. There has to be a financial incentive for Centroid to continue to improve their products and offer the ongoing support they do on this forum. $79 is more than reasonable in my mind. Good on you Keith for keeping it real.

To put the price in perspective think about this. This $79 is the price of ONE carbide endmill.