Advice re upgrading to Acorn from Mach3 and Ess

[tejones777]

I have an XHC WB04B-4 mpg that I currently use with M3, it looks the same as the Acorn MPG, except for the labels on the buttons. Do I need to replace that, or can I use the MPG I already have, if I live with the various button changes?

lathe.jpgRouter.jpgMill.jpg

...but as others have said no to your MPG. Centroid makes a great wireless MPG.

Marty

I'm a new Acorn user, and I'm a bit disappointed that Acorn is only compatible with their own expensive ($279) wireless MPG. I'm a hobby machinist, and selected Acorn because as a "DIY" system, I can supply my own motors, power supplies, switches, and set it up how I want, based on my budget and time constraints, selecting cheaper or more quality products based on my needs and budget. I love searching for low-cost encoders and switches to save a few bucks, or pick up surplus parts. That's what DIY is all about.

Mach3 allowed many wired and wireless MPG devices, and sell for $50-$100. They worked fine for budget users. But none of these are supported by Acorn? I'm sure you can make up reasons, but really? What's the real reason?

On Amazon.com, I see a whole lot of wireless MPG devices for Mach3 for $100-130, which look suspiciously like Centroid's wireless MPG. Sure would be nice if we could use them. Why can't Centroid support some of these low cost options in keeping with the DIY "customize your own system" spirit?

But the Amazon listing for Centroid's WIreless MPG says "Centroid Designed Firmware and Overlay." Did Centroid really modify the firmware because the competitors (at half the price) were not good enough, or because they wanted to eliminate the competition, and force us to buy their accessories?

I was really excited about my new Acorn system, but this just "smells" a little rotten. Help out the hobbyist. Why does dmbgo have to throw out his perfectly good MPG and buy a much more expensive one straight from Centroid?

- Thomas

[Black Forest]

I have an XHC WB04B-4 mpg that I currently use with M3, it looks the same as the Acorn MPG, except for the labels on the buttons. Do I need to replace that, or can I use the MPG I already have, if I live with the various button changes?

lathe.jpgRouter.jpgMill.jpg

...but as others have said no to your MPG. Centroid makes a great wireless MPG.

Marty

I'm a new Acorn user, and I'm a bit disappointed that Acorn is only compatible with their own expensive ($279) wireless MPG. I'm a hobby machinist, and selected Acorn because as a "DIY" system, I can supply my own motors, power supplies, switches, and set it up how I want, based on my budget and time constraints, selecting cheaper or more quality products based on my needs and budget. I love searching for low-cost encoders and switches to save a few bucks, or pick up surplus parts. That's what DIY is all about.

Mach3 allowed many wired and wireless MPG devices, and sell for $50-$100. They worked fine for budget users. But none of these are supported by Acorn? I'm sure you can make up reasons, but really? What's the real reason?

On Amazon.com, I see a whole lot of wireless MPG devices for Mach3 for $100-130, which look suspiciously like Centroid's wireless MPG. Sure would be nice if we could use them. Why can't Centroid support some of these low cost options in keeping with the DIY "customize your own system" spirit?

But the Amazon listing for Centroid's WIreless MPG says "Centroid Designed Firmware and Overlay." Did Centroid really modify the firmware because the competitors (at half the price) were not good enough, or because they wanted to eliminate the competition, and force us to buy their accessories?

I was really excited about my new Acorn system, but this just "smells" a little rotten. Help out the hobbyist. Why does dmbgo have to throw out his perfectly good MPG and buy a much more expensive one straight from Centroid?

- Thomas

With all the different MPG's out there can you imagine the support nightmare on this forum trying to get every MPG running with the Acorn board.!!! It would be a nightmare. Just look at the issues trying to get all the different drives and motors running. At the price point that Acorn sells for why in God's name would Centroid open up that can of worms. I think it is incredible that they sell the Acorn for what they do. If it was double the price it would still be inexpensive. This is only my opinion not Centroids. Just sayin! Just look at the numbers of people that totally ignore the "Read this first" sticky at the top. People don't follow the instructions already when looking for help. Reading comprehension is not a lot of the peoples strong suit that come here.

[carbuthn]

Thomas,
The wireless MPG has been one of my best investments. I use it most of the time. When I first run a program I have it in my hand to start a program and stop the program if something doesn't look right. I would guess that it has paid for it self by me not breaking tools (#4 threadmills are not cheap). After changing tool I have forgotten to reset the power to spindle (locked out by the lift plate for the power drawbar). I just hit cancel to stop the job, yell at myself and start over.

I also use it to move the probe into position for running a probe cycle. With a wireless MPG you don't have to have a touch screen monitor.

In any case I think that most will agree that the wireless MPG is indispensable once they have used it.
Chuck

[martyscncgarage]

[/quote]

I'm a new Acorn user, and I'm a bit disappointed that Acorn is only compatible with their own expensive ($279) wireless MPG. I'm a hobby machinist, and selected Acorn because as a "DIY" system, I can supply my own motors, power supplies, switches, and set it up how I want, based on my budget and time constraints, selecting cheaper or more quality products based on my needs and budget. I love searching for low-cost encoders and switches to save a few bucks, or pick up surplus parts. That's what DIY is all about.

Mach3 allowed many wired and wireless MPG devices, and sell for $50-$100. They worked fine for budget users. But none of these are supported by Acorn? I'm sure you can make up reasons, but really? What's the real reason?

On Amazon.com, I see a whole lot of wireless MPG devices for Mach3 for $100-130, which look suspiciously like Centroid's wireless MPG. Sure would be nice if we could use them. Why can't Centroid support some of these low cost options in keeping with the DIY "customize your own system" spirit?

But the Amazon listing for Centroid's WIreless MPG says "Centroid Designed Firmware and Overlay." Did Centroid really modify the firmware because the competitors (at half the price) were not good enough, or because they wanted to eliminate the competition, and force us to buy their accessories?

I was really excited about my new Acorn system, but this just "smells" a little rotten. Help out the hobbyist. Why does dmbgo have to throw out his perfectly good MPG and buy a much more expensive one straight from Centroid?

- Thomas
[/quote]

Thomas,
YES, XHC builds the WMPG for Centroid, it is a custom unit. If you look at its face, many of the features on it are on the VCP. Centroid had to build the drivers to work with THEIR software and they (CENTROID) supports it.

We certainly have choices when it comes to machine motion control. It is a for profit company, who makes both the hardware and the software and they have been doing CNC machine motion control for over 30 years. Solid hardware, solid software. They chose to enter this market. There have been several revisions of the Acorn hardware, countless revisions of the software, that has to be paid for. They didn't enter the market to "help out the hobbyist" they entered the market because they felt they had a good product to share. You are paying for their years of development & experience. Its not a "pet project" of theirs. They have bills to pay. Because of that, I felt they would continue to improve and support their products.

Nothing rotten smelling here....great product and great people working behind the scenes to make it happen and a growing Community willing to help each other out and share their experiences, and some of the ideas have been implemented by Centroid. Centroid is not a HUGE company. Its a small business. Sometimes things don't happen as fast as we like because they have to move resources around but they do eventually make things happen.

Good luck in whatever direction you chose to go Thomas, though I hope you consider giving Centroid a go. You migh like it.
Marty

[dmbgo]

A "big bore" encoder over the lathe spindle sounds good Tom, since that is the home built setup that I have now. Before I start to look for one, are Matty's specs hard and fast, or can a say 1024 ppr encoder be used? I'll include a pic of the setup that I currently have in a minute or so.
Thanks
Dave

[dmbgo]

On the subject of MPGs, I have 2 x XHC Mpgs, that I currently use with my Mach3 setup on my lathe and mill. It is sad that I need to buy yet another when swapping to the Centroid system, when I am fairly certain that the only difference between the ones I have already, and Centroid's, is the overlay and the firmware in the device.
That being said, I'm happy enough to buy another (I ordered one yesterday), but it is a pity that theres not say, a software upgrade and driver with a new overlay, that could be sold by Centroid to existing M3 users who already have the common XHC Mpg.

[martyscncgarage]

No, you can buy a 1024 line encoder, or a 2000 line encoder. I was only suggesting that a 1000 line is sufficient.

Sorry about having to buy another MPG. Centroid can not be expected to support other MPGs that were not designed to work with their control system.

I understand the concerns. I have my own drawerful of such purchases. That has thinned substantially since I've stuck with Centroid.

Marty

[dmbgo]

Thanks Marty, I'm not upset that Centroid makes something out of them, but was just wondering aloud about MPGs. Thanks for the input re encoders, I'll do some encoder measuring and selection now.
I'll run it by the forum before I click on buy.

[dmbgo]

Here's a photo of the current encoder on the lathe.

[martyscncgarage]

Is the spindle driven internally? What is the timing pulley for?