Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

There are a few on both eBay and Amazon that are better than any touch plate, hell, anything is better than a touch plate. They'll dull your bits or worse, break the nice sharp tip off your brand new O flute if you are not careful. Always use a spring loaded tool touch off of any type versus a solid touch plate. They are junk.

Here's a movable touch plate on Amazon that has a low profile:
https://www.amazon.com/Kehuashina-Z-Axi ... =8-35&th=1

Ebay has similar ones all in the $30-$60 dollar price range.

I use this product now with great results. I have two on my machine, one is my movable touch off and the other is fixed to my X axis gantry and the spindle moves to it for measuring tool offsets during a tool change. These use optical sensors and very accurate for my needs cutting aluminum.
https://topcom.cz/products/digz/digzfix/

I don't understand your question about "importing files". Importing into what?

Importing stl or svg files into acorn for machining

You cannot import those files types into Acorn. Acorn accepts g code from your CAM software. You need to "import" those files into your CAD/CAM software, create tool paths for machining and then create the g code that Acorn can read using a suitable post processor in your CAM software.

What CAD/CAD software do you have?

Mill and Router versions of CNC12 will import a subset of 2D DXF commands. STL is a tessellated 3D solid representation which Centroid will never support. SVG is a 2D vector interchange format but Centroid already does DXF so I don't see that happening either

billybobron wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 11:21 pm Importing stl or svg files into acorn for machining

use a cad/cam system to generate g code to run the CNC
many videos on line.

i would suggest you start with something simple and well documented like Vectric Cut 2D/3D
https://www.vectric.com/products/cut3d

some have been created in Vcarve pro, desk top, or Easel. I think I read that there is a plug in for V carve? Will the G code from Easel work with out problems? some I have created myself, some bought over thr years I have had 2 previous machine that all ran Grbl Open Builds and X carve and Easel

Any Vectric software will have the post processor for Centroid. I know nothing about the other software you listed. Please do your self a favor and forget how your other machines ran, it wont help you going forward, only confuse you. You would need to create the toolpaths in Vcarve or Cut2D and the use the post processor in either to create the g code for your machine.

It's doubtful g code from any other program or software you currently have will work with Acorn. You would need to open the drawing again in any Vectric program and repost it using the centroid post processor.

All these were done with v carve and centroid
Vcarve is a great little program super easy to work with
https://goo.gl/photos/AHMecRzY4yHRqaLS7

As i continue to wire up the control box now that I have everything tested and running I have a question about a probe, one question was answer about the touch plate and will order one on the 1st but would like to know of a good touch probe? Or is ok to use the bit to touch off of the probe?
and oops one more question, Shawn had answered this for me before, however I was reading another post about squaring and homing, for the best results is it wise to use 4 sensors for homing and squaring, is that what gives the best results to insure that machine is square?
TIA

billybobron wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:21 pm Shawn had answered this for me before, however I was reading another post about squaring and homing, for the best results is it wise to use 4 sensors for homing and squaring, is that what gives the best results to insure that machine is square?
TIA

no. its up to you to square the machine. many methods to do this. i use a granite block or large machine square and a indicator. sweep in one side and then sweep the other make adjustments to the gantry until its square.

you could use a probe to do this check, but this is an advanced technique and i suggest you stick with the basics and start with a tape measure and measure diagonals of a square on the table and make it as good as you can get it then use a .001" indicator and a square or granite block. etc..