Centroid Acorn experiences?
I’m about to retrofit a small denford mill and a lathe, I have a Uccnc board I could use in the mill but I like the idea of having the same control in both, and Uccnc isn’t really ready for turn. The acorn kind of looks perfect, apart from its low I/O count (both machines have atcs)
But I can’t find many reviews of the acorn online by people who have actually fitted one.
Anyone here with good/bad experiences?
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
steve_p
I’m about to retrofit a small denford mill and a lathe, I have a Uccnc board I could use in the mill but I like the idea of having the same control in both, and Uccnc isn’t really ready for turn. The acorn kind of looks perfect, apart from its low I/O count (both machines have atcs)
But I can’t find many reviews of the acorn online by people who have actually fitted one.
Anyone here with good/bad experiences?
Look on YouTube there are lots that are using Acorn, this is one that is using it on mills and lathe he has many videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sVZ3-m_r7s
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
You might also want to read through Acorn's own support forum.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
I think the basic Acorn software does not do threading. Not much good for a lathe.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
I think the vast majority of Acorn users pay the ~$100 for the software upgrade, to gain access to a lot more functionality.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
I too am an actual user of the Rev 4 Acorn board. I can second everything Ntl stated. I recently (within the last month) converted a Chinese Blue Elephant 6090 CNC router I bought used on Craigslist over to the Acorn board and I'm completely satisfied with their hardware and software. The support on their forum is second to none and there are tons of videos and support documents for the Acorn on their site. The ease of setup is childsplay. Why I ever considered Mach3 or UCCNC is beyond me. This is truly a "prosumer" system and it's constantly being worked on and improved, if that's even possible. Very soon you'll be able to customize the screen layout and buttons with an all new "router" version that's coming. For $299 and FREE shipping you get an ethernet control board, a 8 position relay board, dual power supply (5 & 24 volts) and a shielded ethernet cable to control your entire system. Oh and their basic control software also. No mix and match controller with BOB's to get your system working. Forget all the other hardware out there and BUY the Acorn.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
I just completed an upgrade to my DynaCNC 4'x8' router table. I couldn't be happier. I think the Centroid Acorn is hands down the best value in DIY CNC. I built a new control box around the Acorn 4 board and with the Video's, schematics and documentation I had no issues getting my existing GeckoDrive 203V drivers, my HY VFD and Spindle working with my machine. Not one issue. Everything just works. I looked at Uccnc, Masso and all the different combinations I could do with Mach 4 and picked the Centroid Acorn in the end. The fact that it was an all in one solution, that was backed by a company that builds OEM controls, not just DIY controls made it an unbelievable deal at $299 for the motion control board with built in break out board, 8 relay board, power supply and the software! I had originally planned to upgrade my machine from Mach3 to Mach4 and use Smooth Stepper along with PMDX boards to try to get as close to a "professional" solution as possible but in the end, that would have cost me 3 times what I paid for the Acorn. I saved so much money I bought a touch screen monitor, the wireless pendant (worth every penny!) and upgraded to the Mill Pro software. The Acron V4 board required zero special configuration, worked out of the box. Just had to enter the motor turning information that I got out of Mach 3, told it what inputs I was using for my switches and it just works.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
I converted a Novakon mill to an acorn this summer. I have not used it a lot but from what testing I have done so far it has run flawlessly. I switched over from mach 3. I think the conversion was worth the money.
Re: Centroid Acorn experiences?
Hmmm I went to amazon Us and it was $299.00 + $56.00 Shipping, On the Canadian site it was $664.00 shipping included! So WTF! Lets see $355.00 Us x the exchange = $461.50 Canadian, $664.00 Canadian = $510.76 Us at $1.30 exchange!
So always shop around!