Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I don't think they send any communication out until it is ready to be shipped. I ordered an Acorn on 12/17 (Sunday) and didn't hear anything back so I called on 12/22 (Friday) to check on the status and they said it was getting shipped out that day. The person on the phone said they were pretty busy and that was before the notice of the price change. That afternoon I received an email receipt with tracking number and it was in my hands by 12/27 (Wednesday). I later ordered the Mill Pro upgrade on 12/30 (Saturday) and received the license file in less than 3 hours!
It took me longer to make the DIN rail adapters for the Acorn and included 24VDC power supply and wire them in than it did to initially configure the software/control to work with my machine (Emco PC Mill 50). My machine isn't done yet so I haven't tested the control in anger but so far I am happy with it. I currently have it working with 3 limit switches, E-Stop, spindle VFD (forward, reverse, and analog speed), and 2 axis stepper motors via a G540 (haven't hooked up the x axis motor yet).
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I hope to very soon get my hands on an Acorn as well, which I will first install on the Pulsar. If it works as well as I expect, I will get another for the Torus Pro. I think the conversion will be straight-forward. For testing, I will leave all the existing wiring in place, take an old BOB, and remove all the chips, etc. leaving only the connectors I'll then solder on wires to run from the connector on the no-longer-a-BOB to the Acorn. Once the Acorn is proven, it will be a simple matter to do a PCB to take the place of the no-longer-a-BOB to clean up the interfacing.
I've already figured out how to interface my ATC to the Acorn. In fact, I can use the same proprietary 4-wire interface I've been using with the KFlop on the Torus Pro! I've also figured out how to interface a custom pendant, and even a full machine control panel, and MPG to the Acorn.
It's a remarkably flexible device. I'll start on the conversion as soon as I can get my hands on the Acorn, and should have it fully functional, including rigid tapping, in about a day!
Regards,
Ray L.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I did receive notice and the software key just before it arrived on Monday.
Haven't had any time to do anything with it.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I'm still trying to decide between an acorn and path pilot. I have a friend who runs one of the higher end centroid control boards and he is very happy with it. Any one want to make a case for why one system is better than the other?
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I only chose it because it will run that forth slaved axis.
Not sure Path Pilot will do that without being a linux guru.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
upnorth
I'm still trying to decide between an acorn and path pilot. I have a friend who runs one of the higher end centroid control boards and he is very happy with it. Any one want to make a case for why one system is better than the other?
It's really a hard question to answer without somebody that is well versed in both to give an unbiased opinion. Besides just getting familiar with either one, one of the main differences is that the Acorn CNC control is on the board instead of the computer running the program. I bought 2 of them because I wanted encoders and rigid tapping on my lathe and mill and the solid reputation of Centroid. It's a matter of how conversational Intercon is compared to Path Pilot. Again somebody has to have had both to give an honest opinion. My son really likes his Centroid system but again that's all he's used. Once I get my Skyfire cranking I'll finish up the Lathe and at least give some feedback. I know it's not what your looking for but it will be something at least.
Jack
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
i just got my hurco up and running today with the centroid oak , so far I'm very pleased
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roadstercycle
It's really a hard question to answer without somebody that is well versed in both to give an unbiased opinion. Besides just getting familiar with either one, one of the main differences is that the Acorn CNC control is on the board instead of the computer running the program. I bought 2 of them because I wanted encoders and rigid tapping on my lathe and mill and the solid reputation of Centroid. It's a matter of how conversational Intercon is compared to Path Pilot. Again somebody has to have had both to give an honest opinion. My son really likes his Centroid system but again that's all he's used. Once I get my Skyfire cranking I'll finish up the Lathe and at least give some feedback. I know it's not what your looking for but it will be something at least.
Jack
I guess what I really want to know is how well does the acorn work. I always had weird issues with Mach 3. I just want something that works. A friend of mine has a Centroid and he seems quite happy with it but its not an acorn its one of the higher end boards. I really do not care which I use as long as its stable and predictable.
Thanks for the input km3p,
I'm leaning towards getting an acorn and giving it a go.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
I can't believe it has been two years since I brought up this question. I recently bought an acorn and will be starting the install next week. I need to order a db25 breakout board then I can get started. I also ordered a Drewtronics probe so I'll see how that works out also. If anyone is interested I'll post the results. It looks like it will not be too difficult of an install.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
upnorth
I can't believe it has been two years since I brought up this question. I recently bought an acorn and will be starting the install next week. I need to order a db25 breakout board then I can get started. I also ordered a Drewtronics probe so I'll see how that works out also. If anyone is interested I'll post the results. It looks like it will not be too difficult of an install.
Looking forward to seeing how this comes along. I guess Novakon is no longer pursuing the Acorn controller. I just ordered a 7I92 Mesa board so that I could install and test some of the QtPyVCP Virtual Control Panels some of the guys over at Linux CNC have been working on.
Steve
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
It will be interesting to see. I had considered the Acorn, but I want to mess around with additional functions and tools for my device and have decided on LinuxCNC instead. I'm planning on using a dual closed loop configuration with linear encoders.
Re: Anyone considering the centroid Acorn instead of path pilot?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Steve303
Looking forward to seeing how this comes along. I guess Novakon is no longer pursuing the Acorn controller. I just ordered a 7I92 Mesa board so that I could install and test some of the QtPyVCP Virtual Control Panels some of the guys over at Linux CNC have been working on.
Steve
My mistake, Novakon was pursing the UCCNC ETH-400 not the Acorn controller.