Adam,
On your old Mach3 system where you slaved the two axis by
checking a box, you can do that with the demo version, but if you want to run a file larger than 500 lines you have to upgrade to a pro or licensed version don't you?
You can do the exact same thing with Acron and CNC12, simply
checking a box to slaved axis, but you have to upgrade to the pro or licensed version. Acorn is limited, similar to Mach3, to 50kb file regardless of the number of lines and some advanced features are locked out.
You can
hardware pair the drives with the "free" version of CNC12 but remember the software is still limited to a 50kb file.
You cannot run a complex part on either Mach3 or CNC12 without buying the licensed version. So in essence they are the same, limited programs until you purchase the licensed or pro version to unlock its full potential. Neither of the pro or licensed versions are "free" and we all are aware of these limitation in both pieces of software. Please get over the fact that the software is not free and stop comparing it to Mach3 and saying it was free. If you have a bootleg copy of Mach3 then maybe it was free. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Please download this PDF and read it front to back.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _guide.pdf
When you "hardware" pair two axis you simply wire the step and direction from the two drives to the same output on the Acorn. Take both -step and -direction wires from the two drives you want to pair and wire them to the same step and direction terminals on your breakout board. When hardware paring , if you need to reverse
one of the motors you reverse the
motor wires where they hook to the drive on the drive.
With all that said, if you are going to upgrade to the pro license then don't bother with any of what I just said and wire each one to it's one axis on the board and "check" the box in the wizard to pair the 4th axis to your Y axis. And if you need to reverse the motor direction you simply check another box.
Again, you cannot run large or complex parts with the FREE version of CNC12 (or crappy old Mach3) so just accept that you need to upgrade the software to the PRO version. It'll make your life easier, oh and ours as well.
CNC12 comes as free, limited software so you can at least get the system configured and working and even do limited test cuts with the machine. If you want to simply cut out squares all day then the free version is all you need.
I'm here to help in anyway I can but if you hardware pair and then in a month are frustrated that you can't cut large or complex parts please don't come back here and complain about it. I'll simply say "I told you so".
But then I'll help you unpair the axis so you can do software paring. And then you can also have the machine auto square itself.
Let us know how it works out for you.
