Centroid Acorn Controller - Has anyone tried one?

[Chaz]

Chaz give me some more info on turret ie: Distance to move per tool change.
Do you have this working on Mach3 if so then post M6.macro as it should tell everything needed to write Macro for Acorn.

Thanks. I did try and email you yesterday however got a bounce from your hemsworthlad email address.

My understanding is that I need some code in cnctch.mac. I then also need to change some parameters to tell Centroid that there is an ATC. Finally, I believe the actual PLC code (not sure / where / how to edit this) contains the actual movement logic or macro. Here is the Mach 3 macro that works with this turret. The logic is fairly straight forward.



If IsLoading() Then
' Do Nothing, program loading
Else

' Dim Variables

Dim Num_Tools As Integer
Dim CW_Steps_Per_Tool As Integer
Dim CCW_Steps As Integer
Dim HoldingDRO As Integer
Dim Requested_Tool As Integer
Dim Current_Tool As Integer
Dim CW_Feed As Integer
Dim CCW_Feed As Integer

Dim moves As Integer
Dim total_move As Integer


' set up some vars

Num_Tools = 8
CW_Move_Per_Tool = 360/Num_Tools
CCW_Move = 10
HoldingDRO = 1050
Requested_Tool = GetSelectedTool()
Current_Tool = GetUserDRO(HoldingDRO)
CW_Feed = 1500
CCW_Feed = 1000
Current_Feed = GetOEMDRO(818)


' start tool change

Message ("Requested Tool No=" & Requested_Tool)

If Requested_Tool > Num_Tools Then
Message "Requested Tool No. too high, program stopped."
Code "M30"
End
End If

If Requested_Tool < 1 Then
'Message "Requested Tool No. too low, program stopped."
Code "M30"
End
End If

If Requested_Tool = Current_Tool Then
' do nothing
Else
' lets do some changing
If Requested_Tool > Current_Tool Then moves = Requested_Tool -Current_Tool
If Requested_Tool < Current_Tool Then moves = Num_Tools - Current_Tool +Requested_Tool

total_move = (moves * CW_Move_Per_Tool)+(CCW_Move/2)

Code "G91 G94" 'incremental & Feed per minute
Code "G0 A" & total_move '& "F" & CW_Feed
Code "G0 A" & "-" & CCW_Move '& "F" & CCW_Feed
While IsMoving()
Wend

SetCurrentTool Requested_Tool
SetUserDRO HoldingDRO, Requested_Tool
Code "G90" ' back to absolute movement
Code "F" & Current_Feed
End If
End If

[Chaz]

If you watch this video, you can see the cnctch.mac Tool Change Request Macro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XxCzerDKGU

Ive paused it and written (copied) the code.

IF #50001 ;Prevent lookahead
IF #4202 || #4201 THEN GOTO 1000
IF #4120 == #90014 THEN GOTO 1000

N100

G10 P1906 R1
G4 P.5
M94 /6
M101 / 70001
M95 /6

N1000

The actual logic of movement is:-

Code "G0 A" & total_move '& "F" & CW_Feed
Code "G0 A" & "-" & CCW_Move '& "F" & CCW_Feed

I assume this is the logic you need to do in the PLC?

[Chaz]

If you watch one vid, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qa_SN9n-MY they open an acorn_mill_plc.src file. On the lathe software, there is no such file. I can reinstall and do the Mill bit on this main PC of mine to try it. The other issue is that the board and machine is in the garage, without removing the board and bringing it inside, I cannot 'play' on my main PC in the house.

I also looked to see if we can change the IP address of the board so that I can 'lan' it. At the moment, my garage PC has only 1 NIC which means that whilst its connected to the board, I have no internet access.

[Clive S]

At the moment, my garage PC has only 1 NIC which means that whilst its connected to the board, I have no internet access.

How about one of these:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-...YAAOSwuQxaZ1vz

[Chaz]

How about one of these:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-...YAAOSwuQxaZ1vz

Thanks, got something like this already, would just prefer to use the wired connection in the garage if possible.

[JAZZCNC]

If you watch one vid, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qa_SN9n-MY they open an acorn_mill_plc.src file. On the lathe software, there is no such file.

The PLC source file is created when controller is started so will only show after it's successfully created. When you start controller watch first screen saying initialising MPU and if you get error then source file won't be created.

If get MPU error the go to wizzard and reset by writing settings to controller.

[Chaz]

The PLC source file is created when controller is started so will only show after it's successfully created. When you start controller watch first screen saying initialising MPU and if you get error then source file won't be created.

If get MPU error the go to wizzard and reset by writing settings to controller.

Thanks, suspected that as Im not on the Lathe PC.

Making some headway but struggling a bit as this is new to me.

Current macro, clearly not finished yet.

Num_Tools IS 8
CW_Move_Per_Tool IS 360/Num_Tools
CCW_Move IS 10
CW_Feed IS 1500
CCW_Feed IS 1000
TOOLCHANGEMSG IS Tool Changing Taking Place

;start tool change

;If Requested_Tool > Current_Tool Then moves = Requested_Tool -Current_Tool

;If Requested_Tool < Current_Tool Then moves = Num_Tools - Current_Tool +Requested_Tool

If Requested_Tool > SV_TOOL_NUMBER Then moves = Requested_Tool -Current_Tool

If Requested_Tool < SV_TOOL_NUMBER Then moves = Num_Tools - Current_Tool +Requested_Tool


total_move = (moves * CW_Move_Per_Tool)+(CCW_Move/2)


Code "G91 G94" 'incremental & Feed per minute
Code "G0 A" & total_move '& "F" & CW_Feed
Code "G0 A" & "-" & CCW_Move '& "F" & CCW_Feed
;SetCurrentTool Requested_Tool
;SetUserDRO HoldingDRO, Requested_Tool
Code "G90" ' back to absolute movement
Code "F" & Current_Feed

[battwell]

ive just ordered one of these- pretty good reviews for wired lan extender through power sockets
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Broadba...k/122236222579

[Chaz]

ive just ordered one of these- pretty good reviews for wired lan extender through power sockets
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Broadba...k/122236222579

The problem isnt connectivity. I have a similar setup. The issue is that the controller connects via Ethernet, so I cant 'get' to the Internet if the cable I need is disconnected. CS Labs allows you to use DHCP on your network to reassign its IP. This doesnt seem to do that.

[JAZZCNC]

Chaz been doing little digging and looks like the acorn is setup in such away that it watches inputs to determine where the turret is located.
This is why the Orac code is so simple. The PLC is watching the I/O to determine which turret location currently at then moving to new location.

There isn't any code in the PLC like what your probably thinking. All the PLC does is watch 3 inputs and depending on there logic state knows turret location. ie:
In1=on In2=off in3=on == Turret Position#1
In1=on In2=on In3=off == Turret Position #2
In1=off In2=on In3=on == Turret Position #3
And so on for each Turret location.

Using this Logic indexing it rotates the turret while watching the I/O untill matches tool # taken from G-code and stored in parameter #4102 and when finished returns sets this location in Memory and sets parammeter #90014.
This Logic is the only thing in the PLC which can be changed.

It should be possible to change the PLC but this is beyond me at the minute.
However think we could easily work around this and effectively do it manually using the Macro with simple moves then set the parameters to keep track where located.

Also note Centroid don't use G91 incremental moves. If want to program incremental move you use UVW moves ie: x10 Z-5 would be absolute moves.
incremental moves would be U10 W-5.

What axis would you use for turret.?