[DSpeck]

According to Centroid, you do need to run 1:1 on the spindle vs. encoder. They suggest a minimum of 2000 lines/rev (8000 cpt with quadrature).

I have several lathe projects in the future, and Acorn seems like the best low(er) cost solution - I'm with you on the software and hardware being from the same company! The encoder support, etc all work to make it superior. With the price increase on Jan 3rd, 2018, I'm buying 2 more (already ordered one).

[Turbo442]

According to Centroid, you do need to run 1:1 on the spindle vs. encoder. They suggest a minimum of 2000 lines/rev (8000 cpt with quadrature).

I have several lathe projects in the future, and Acorn seems like the best low(er) cost solution - I'm with you on the software and hardware being from the same company! The encoder support, etc all work to make it superior. With the price increase on Jan 3rd, 2018, I'm buying 2 more (already ordered one).

Ok I better buy another....

Dang no multiplier for the encoder yet? You wouldn’t think that would be that hard for them to implement?

[LeeWay]

Has anyone tried the acorn n a CNCRP plug and play box?
I am still have intermittent issues with Mach 3 and smooth stepper, so I would like to move away from that.
Mine also has the plug and play spindle kit, so that is one of the main areas of concern for me. I know acorn can do analog outputs.

[Roadstercycle]

According to Centroid, you do need to run 1:1 on the spindle vs. encoder. They suggest a minimum of 2000 lines/rev (8000 cpt with quadrature).

I have several lathe projects in the future, and Acorn seems like the best low(er) cost solution - I'm with you on the software and hardware being from the same company! The encoder support, etc all work to make it superior. With the price increase on Jan 3rd, 2018, I'm buying 2 more (already ordered one).

I just bought 2 Acorns for my Lathe and mill with Pro. Goodby Mach3 Some of the guys have been having good luck with these encoders found on Ebay $25. OMRON Rotary Encoder E6B2-CWZ1X E6B2CWZ1X 2000P/R new in box free ship.
I bought a couple to try myself. They are knock offs for sure. You have to run 1 to 1 with the spindle with Acorn. Mine should be here Wednesday fingers crossed. Can't wait to hook them up and take them for a test ride.

[LeeWay]

I did order one for the router along with the Pro software.
I will start a thread to document the changes I make to the CRP plug and play system.
Should be pretty straight forward. I did not notice any head scratching parts yet.

[Turbo442]

I just bought 2 Acorns for my Lathe and mill with Pro. Goodby Mach3 Some of the guys have been having good luck with these encoders found on Ebay $25. OMRON Rotary Encoder E6B2-CWZ1X E6B2CWZ1X 2000P/R new in box free ship.
I bought a couple to try myself. They are knock offs for sure. You have to run 1 to 1 with the spindle with Acorn. Mine should be here Wednesday fingers crossed. Can't wait to hook them up and take them for a test ride.

Thanks, I ordered one of the encoders from EBay. Can’t beat $25 shipped!

Man this guy did an amazing job documenting his build. Here is his 1:1 encoder drive.

Logan CNC Lathe Conversion


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Roadstercycle]

I saw that the other day, he did a really great job. The encoder mount is over the top, $500 mount for a $25 encoder. Actually he had an encoder in stock. It's a beautiful thing. I ordered my pulleys last night for the lathe. I already did the mill encoder mount on the spindle. Next is the lathe. Hopefully by next weekend I'll have them both up and running with Acorn.

[Turbo442]

This is a pretty awesome home feature!!!

Should be able to power off for the night and re-start without need to touch off.

https://youtu.be/l1xUtRwN6T0


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

I had two acorn boards show up in the last couple of days. Dragged the lathe out, dusted it off, cleaned it up and fired up Mach one last time. Everything checked out fine. Ran pretty quiet, now I am second guessing if I should build a second controller....Screw it I will just use this controller.
Attachment 383848
Attachment 383850
Attachment 383852

[Turbo442]

Pulled the original CNC4PC boards from the controller. Left the power controls and 5056 stepper drivers. Moved the drivers over on the mounting plate to give a little more room for the Acorn board in the controller. Got the Acorn board mounted on standoffs. Mounted and wired the Centroid 24V PS. After about 4 hours of messing around I had Z and X axis moving around. I had to reverse the X motor direction. I did that by reversing both pairs of stepper motor wires at the driver. I am trying to keep the Centroid settings close to default if possible. Another couple of hours and I had Z and X calibrated under .001' and backlash set. I used .001" for both Z and X. Its amazingly close at the moment. Now on to the VFD wiring. Upgrading from an existing Mach setup is sooooooo much easier than doing this controller from scratch. Actually its pretty fun because it moves along so quickly. So much less troubleshooting. Also Centroid provides all kinds of schmatics to help with various configurations. Its helping me a lot to understand proper implementation of the various safety and interlock systems we often over look on home CNC builds. I built a dedicated WIN10 machine from a 5 year old game machine I had laying around. Plenty of performance. Did a fresh install of WIN10 and configured the OS per centroids recommendations. So far the solid seems much more polished than Mach although I am going to do my best to not talk negatively about Mach. I got us where we are today and made a huge impact on the CNC world. I really appreciate the clean and uncluttered look of the Centroid software interface so far. It really has a professional / commercial feel to it.

[Turbo442]

Here is the new layout with the Acorn Board. I will clean up the wiring after I get a few more things completed like the VFD and spindle encoder. I plan to add a proper ESTOP circuit per Centtoid specs, home flags, limit switches, a 4th wire for the 240V circuit. Flood coolant relay. Led enclosure lighting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

Making some progress. The steppers and spindle are moving around. I finally got the Acorn Board controlling the TECO VFD FWD, STOP, REV AND SPEED.

https://youtu.be/66jKgjCZul0




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LeeWay]

Looking good.
I have only been doing some preliminary prep research to get everything together for my Acorn on a CRP router. Things like wiring diagrams I will need. Post processor for Fusion 360 for the Centroid.
Getting the computer setup, etc.
Then I will be right behind you.

[TronCarter]

Hi Matt,

I have been following along with this build as I am getting ready to CNC a G0602 and a G0762. At first I thought I was going to use Mach, as that is what I currently use on my CNC router. After reading through this thread, I'm seriously considering the Acorn/Centroid setup.

I've been reading several threads and might have them confused, but did you add a braking resistor to the Teco?

Tron

[Turbo442]

Hi Matt,

I have been following along with this build as I am getting ready to CNC a G0602 and a G0762. At first I thought I was going to use Mach, as that is what I currently use on my CNC router. After reading through this thread, I'm seriously considering the Acorn/Centroid setup.

I've been reading several threads and might have them confused, but did you add a braking resistor to the Teco?

Tron

From what I remember, the TECO VFD will not connect to an external braking resistor directly. It needs an optional external braking module. That being said there is an internal resistor built into the TECO VFD you can use, it’s just pretty easy to overwhelm it at the higher RPM’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

I have been making some progress on the Acorn encoder setup. I have attached some photos.










Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

Using only one drive gear, I couldn’t get the encoder close enough to the original spindle gear drive with out it hitting the spindle pulleys. So I added an idler gear to get additional clearance around the pulley. The red anodizing is just some scrap aluminum I had laying around. This may not be the final version of the encoder mount. I have a few changes I will probably make although this should work as is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

The gears are machined out of white UHMW on the mill using a 3/8 EM 3 FL, 1/8 EM 2 FL and 1/16 EM 2 FL. I used coolant, they came out pretty clean and fit the original spindle gear perfectly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turbo442]

The new Centroid wireless remote jpg handle showed up today. I upgraded to the latest software/firmware per the YouTube video. The jog handle works great so far and the quality of it exceeded my expectations!!! It’s so much nicer than the Vista CNC unit I was using with Mach. Nice thick rubber molding on the outside. The jog wheel feels great. Two big thumbs up!!!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TronCarter]

From what I remember, the TECO VFD will not connect to an external braking resistor directly. It needs an optional external braking module. That being said there is an internal resistor built into the TECO VFD you can use, it’s just pretty easy to overwhelm it at the higher RPM’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, I was talking about the external braking module. I was wondering if you purchased one and are using it.