Laguna SS M2 48 with Richauto B57E HHC conversion to Centroid Acorn

[tcrist]

I have a 2021 Laguna Smart Shop M2 with a Richauto HHC and ATC.
The gantry, spindle, etc. seems to work well, but the Richauto is a terrible interface.
After crashing a tool holder $, then the touch off sensor $$, then booting with an HHC and a blank screen $$$, time to look for a new solution.

Laguna suggests a year's tech support subscription at around $2100 which includes an onsite visit (but I also pay travel expenses for the tech). This has an onsite tech to help resolve issues and give training. Laguna will also sell me a new HHC for $1850. Instead, I am converting the machine to a Centroid ATC.

This is a three axis CNC and I don't think I will update this machine
with a fourth axis. The Richauto has five inputs:
X-axis limit
Y-axis limit
Z-axis limit
Dust Cover reed switch
Tool touch off sensor

Major components are:
Steppers are 1.8 degree NEMA 34 Stepper Motors FL86STH118A-23-CLF
Stepper drivers are Yako YKA2811MA (4x)
Spindle is 4.5KW air-cooled HITECO (29L0622988B)
VFD for spindle is Delta VFD25AMS23AN5HA

The attachment IMG_6571.jpg is no longer available

NEMA 34 steppers

Yako stepper drivers

Richauto controller

Laguna Smart Shop M2 4x8

[cnckeith]

hello. and welcome! thanks for starting a build thread for your project.
the machine itself looks nice.
would be great to ditch the open loop steppers and install a closed loop motor/drive package as closed loop would perform so much better on a machine this size.
closed loop is smoother, doesn't' loose position (lost steps), has torque at speed unlike open loop, better cuts, better motion, much more reliable etc.. It makes such an incredible difference on day to day operation of a CNC router. The open loop nema 34's and drives on this machine where chosen by the mfg'er for the lowest cost possible for maximum profit.

[Gary Campbell]

+1 to what Keith says above. Only super cheap OEMs and unknowing DIY guys will run an ATC on open loop steppers. Your first paragraph gives a few of the reasons why. There are many more.

[suntravel]

Converting to Centroid Acorn with good closed loop steppers is less expensive than the support leaving you with unreliable hard and soft ware

If you want to make parts and not wasting time with troubleshooting Acorn is an excellent choice if it runs with proved ok CL Steppers like Leadshine or Stepperonline.

If you are looking for more speed on rapids servos are the way to go.

Uwe

[Gary Campbell]

Personally, I would not recommend Stepper online in the same breath as LeadShine. LeadShine is a high quality manufacturer with multiple grades of products. Stepper Online is a reseller of low cost, low quality products. You get what you pay for.

The largest fault in the thought process of the DIY builder is how they convince themselves that low cost products will work as well as higher cost, higher quality products. They don't.

I can't figure out why guys that are saving money on the build labor don't invest some of the savings in better components.

[suntravel]

Gary,

most of the better lines from Stepperonline are made by Leadshine and even sometimes newer versions drivers accepting higher step rates.

I am running the +V4 drivers at 400 Khz without any problems, even for some applications in my job 24/5

Uwe

[Gary Campbell]

Uwe...
Yes , some of them are from LeadShine, but not their top grade, which is all I use. That said, I believe there is currently a dispute between the 2 companies over the use of cheaper clones being silkscreened with LeadShine's product name and info.

Imagine that: the Chinese hacking the Chinese!

As a system builder I can only afford to purchase top quality products for my customers. I avoid Stepper online like the plague.

[suntravel]

Gary,

sure, as a system builder, I also would buy only from a known ok manufacturer not from resellers.

But my experience from Stepperonline for personal use and from the stuff I know from friends is with +50 units not one fault, only two times colors of the cables mixed up.

The other thing is, I cannot use steppers/servos with 100khz on my hobby machines, because they are designed for 200 and 400 khz.

Uwe

[Ken Rychlik]

I have done a few Laguna's and you will be very happy getting rid of the oem controller. You can change the system out yourself to centroid if you have some wiring knowledge and desire. Folks on this form will help you along the way. I have done multiple axyz machines that came with stepper motors on atc machines and they are all out making money. I would suggest you change the controller and if you find you need other motors, you can do that later. The last axyz I did had servo's on x and y with steppers on Z and rotary for the tool rack. The servo's were changed out because Teknic would not support them, if I wasn't an oem builder. I fix machines for other people a lot and most of the issues are servo related. Like Uwe, I have used LOTS of stepper online products and have been very pleased with them. They are out making money. If you need it done quickly and don't want to learn how, post your location and perhaps someone near you would tackle the job. If you have the time to do it yourself, it would be better for you to know all of the system parts. That way if there were ever any issues, you would be in a good position to fix it yourself.

[tcrist]

Ken,
Completely agree with the need to get rid of the Richauto controller. Laguna seemed to recognize this around 2022. I will look into closed loop control - I understand the benefit, but I need to get up and going. There is an immediate need for parts.

If you've done Laguna conversions before, what did you do with the spindle direction (FWD) and spindle start (DCM) signals? I see the analog speed reference on the Acorn, but not sure about the other two? (schematic for the Laguna attached).

When you do your conversions, do you connect and test one axis at a time, or all at once?

Thanks!

Tim