Re: Which motion control / software for a combo machine?
A few points of clarification as some of the following statements are untrue.
Originally Posted by
OlfCNC
Don't forget that Centroid workers and contractors posting in those forum threads. Islaw (Gary Campbell) who is a contractor of Centroid and always talking BS about UCCNC, likely because he wants to sell his Centroid control boxes he build and posted a few videos here about it.
I am not a contractor of or for Centroid. I am a semi retired independent small (1 man) cnc control builder that over the last few years has built cnc controllers using ShopBot, UCCNC, WinCNC and Centroid Acorn. All have their high and low points when comparing features against each other. There is no "one size fits all". I am not a "fan boy" of any of them as each is simply a vehicle that allows me to generate income.
That said, in Jan 2018 I stopped building controls that used ShopBot components due to difficulties getting their controllers to connect to user computers.
After receiving a file from a customer (running a UCCNC controller) with an issue regarding feedrates on spiral interpolated circles with Z depth change generated by Vectric CAD/CAM I too, noticed what he had observed. UCCNC would not maintain the set feedrate, nor would it execute the same geometry at the same feedrate when that geometry used line segments output via CAM vs line segments output by the controller.
I made videos of these anomalies and forwarded them to CNCdrive (privately, off forum). I also made videos of the same code running on 2 other controllers. Neither exhibited the slowdown or herky jerky motion that was present with the UCCNC controller. All were shared with Ger21 and he assisted me to try and alleviate the issue. We got it better, but never eliminated. CNCdrive was no help. Later when another user posted a thread because he was experiencing similar issues, I posted a link to my thread and commented that it didn't seem likely to be acknowledged (as in my case) and therefore unlikely to be fixed in the near future. I was sent an email by CNCdrive stating that this was a warning, my last warning before being banned from their forum.
I have worked with numerous controllers over the years and these "bugs" never make the developers happy. That said, this was the first time I had received a banishment threat rather than thanks. I used this a sign to sell all my remaining UCCNC controllers and IO board and stop using the product.
I would like you to consider that I am not speaking "BS" (your term) here. That when I give an opinion on how one controller performs when compared to another it is based on the fact that I have tested them side by side using the same code. And when there is an anomaly I provide a video that shows the difference. To me, it is impossible to give an objective comparison unless one has tested all products being compared. In all but the rarest of cases, I am willing to not only tell you why I prefer why I feel one may have an edge over another, I am willing to SHOW you.
A few more that don't quite seem accurate to me:
UCCNC has much more complex customisable sctripts than just PLC routines.
It has custom macros and custom plugins. Also all macros compile and run on the fly so development of them is kind of an ease even for me.
It also has built in screen editor with which you can build your own screen or just modify the screen if you want.
With UCCNC these are not only plans, but actually parts of the software already.
This will be always a subject of debate, but a programmer friend has told me recently that I have much greater flexibility with Centroid's internal programming features that with the others I have used (all 3 others) Not being a programmer, I defer to his greater knowledge.
UCCNC is also 5+ years old, I mean it is available 5+ years, not 1 year old and marketed to be 30 years old like the Acorn.
The Acorn hardware is now approaching 2 years of existence and runs a feature limited (mostly IO) version of the same software and the same controller (Beagle Bone Green) as the high end Centroid 8 axis controller products. Yes, ongoing improvements for 30+ years. The "Hickory" product line, which exists in PA, but hasn't been released from internal testing yet, is set to do so in Sept and will offer 8 axes, 5 encoder inputs, multiple analog out and ins, plus numerous features that cannot be mentioned publicly at this time. #gamechanger
UCCNC is also not just a software company, they make their own motion controller hardwares and breakboards and other stuff.
So does Centroid. They have in their US (Pennsylvania) based HQ, their own PC board burning, pick and place machine and "dunk tanks" for complete quality control over their branded products. They also supply racing fab shops with 5 axis machines for producing engine blocks and cylinder heads from billet in their Performance Racing line: A560 5-Axis CNC Articulating-Head Porting Machine - high-speed cylinder head porting, digitize and port intake and exhaust ports and combustion chambers...
If I remember corecctly, at the time the best IO board I used with UCCNC was the UB1, which was I believe, 3rd party.
UCCNC has motion controller with over 80 I/Os (UC300ETH-5LPT)
The current (on my test bench) IO expansions allow a total of five 1616 (16 inputs 16 outputs) to be added to the Acorn's existing 8 for a total of 88, which is far beyond my perceived needs. They are compatible across the Centroid line and can even be mounted out of the control box, near the electrical panel if desired, to control high amperage single and 3 phase equipment "at the source"
In any case, it appears to me that while they all operate nearly the same, there are some advantages to each. Sometimes price, sometimes feature, I try to be agnostic, until machine operation is affected. I am disappointed you took my words as BS. I work hard to always have backup to all claims, which is rare in the CNC internet realm. If the biased opinions of one brand vs. another by fanboys were valid, Mach would be the best controller out there. We all know that it is not. Test them side by side, then give an opinion. I have.
Gary Campbell CNC Technology & Training
GCnC411 (at) gmail.com www.youtube.com/user/Islaww1/videos