Here to learn and share projects with the community. I do my best to give quick & concise information about my process hoping to help anyone trying to do something similar.
For any inquiries you can reach out to me here or at the email below - I reply to all questions.
Mill: Precision Matthews PM30-MV
Control: Centroid Acorn
Ball Screws: 20mm 5mm Pitch
Motors: 12Nm Nema 34 Closed Loop Steppers
CAD: Solidworks & Fusion 360
CAM: HSMWorks (in Solidworks) & Fusoin 360
Email: [email protected]
Пікірлер
Great video. Thanks!
The part where you explained how all CAM software/tool paths share the same parameters was GOLD. I have a CAD background and have recently gotten into researching how to build custom CNCs, I’ve tried to explain the same concept to my fellow cad peers about different softwares but end up looking like a clown because the basics don’t make sense to the advanced users anymore. Would you happen to know about PLCs and automation robot arms? That’s my final goal to 5axis 3d printing.
I'm glad you found it helpful! I've programmed some robotic PLCs in the past. I think one of my very first videos on KZread is balancing a beam with quadcopter propellors/motors. I don't know anything about 5 axis robot arm programming, but my instincts tell me there should be some reverse kinematics libraries you could take advantage of if you wanted to do it yourself, and I've definitely seen 5axis motor controllers you can buy, but that's the extent of my knowledge. Would you buy the robot arm or make it yourself? Cheers - Adam
@@adamdebowski2037 I’m looking to make a smaller arm for my independent study class in CNC programming. Initially was planning to make parts for my 3d printer and call it a day. Since it’s still summer time I’m thinking of laying out all of my skills acquired over the years into one project. That goes without saying I’m still a noob when it comes to scaled up machines or even just understanding how the electronics scale up compared to diy 3d printers. Will check out your videos 100%.
That’s a really cool way to copy a rather complicated and awkward part. Nice job.
What kind of CNC mill is that and how expensive is it?
Awesome video Adam! Any thoughts on whether this would be a better option than just buying a Tormach 440 or 770?
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Objectively, both the 440 and 770 are better machines than my setup, but they sure come at a premium. All in, the setup I have is under well under 10K USD, and that includes the Mill, CNC conversion, air compressor, tooling, everything. The main benefits of the Tormachs: Tool Changers (this is huge), way higher 10,000 rpm (great for small tools) compared to my 3000 rpm, enclosure & cooling (lets you get into fancier materials easily), BT30 spindle is more rigid than the R8 spindle. The main benefits of my setup: a fraction of the cost, somewhat easily (and economically) upgradeable spindle that will out perform the Tormachs, and PM30 has larger machine travels. If I had to choose between my setup and the 440 or 770, I would probably still chose my setup. If I had to choose between my setup and the 1100M, I'd choose the 1100M if money was no object. I'd say it really depends on what you want to use it for (hobby, or business/making money?) and the materials you want to machine... and most of all; budget.
I looked into Linux CNC but bought PlanetCNC in the end. PlanetCNC looked less complicated. There is only one version and it has wear compensation, Probing routines and it can handle 4th axis and tool changer.
Wonderful video editing. Wish I saw this video two years ago!
really really nice
Adam, currently I’m running nema 34 on the Acorn. I’ve done a lot of research but couldn’t find the answer. I’m trying to find what to set my PPR or step per revolution on the driver. Any recommendations?
More than likely you should be at 6400 pulses per rev. Try that out. If you're wrong, it'll be obvious in the machine travels.
I’ll give it a try. Thanks!
Thank you so much i hope to absorb a lot, though i dont understand some parts
Does 3d scanning work in such cases
It can - but takes some advanced knowledge in 3D modelling. It is not like 3D printing. Scanning and 3D printing is relatively easy.
Good compact information without time fillers between words. Thanks for experience and efficiency.
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you found it helpful 👍 cheers - Adam
Hey Adam, Thanks for the vid. I watched it when you posted but just came back to watch again. You helped me a while back when I was deciding which way to go on my controller and software, thanks for that! My controller cabinet is done besides putting a skin on it. I'm working on the machine design now. I have the ball screws and servo motors already just need to get something put together for testing. I think the biggest hurdle may be getting the acorn setup correctly. But once I have one axis figured out the rest is cake. You do a great job explaining how and what you are doing and I appreciate it! Cheers 🍻
Hey Blackbird - thanks for checking back in with an update! Let me know how you make out when connecting the acorn. I’ll be happy to share all my settings. So long as your step and direction connections into the motor drives are good, you shouldn’t have too many problems but I’m curious to see how it goes. Thanks for the kind words! - Adam
@@adamdebowski2037 Thanks bud. I will ping you when I get there! Take care! -Aj
Thanks for the video Adam! I always enjoy watching your videos. Even though I've been running my Acorn converted PM30 mill for almost 5 years now I did learn a couple of things. I didn't know you could modify the hole size using the D offset in the tool library. I also didn't know you could get a 3D view of the tool paths when running the program. I manage my tool offsets a little different using the Fixed Z Home method and a Tool Touchoff mounted on the left-front of the table. I also made a power drawbar for tool changes. I don't know how you have gone on so long without one. A ATC would be nice but I mostly post for each tool change to prove out the CAM. Most of my jobs are one offs so the ATC wouldn't make much difference.
Thanks Mark! Which tool touch off are you using? I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while now…. Maybe it’s time! For your fixed Z home method - are you using one of those standard mechanical limit switches? I always thought they weren’t accurate enough, but I haven’t actually experimented. Do you find any variability in your Z positions?
I have always wanted to be able to do this type of CNC type machining in my home shop but never had the nerve to pull the trigger on purchasing the system. Unsure how long it took you to get good at this? Did you have a machinist background? In any event, very impressed with your abilities and video. Thxs
Hi Ralph - thanks for the kind words! I have no previous experience as a machinist, and extensive experience with the Solidworks CAD software. Designing parts in 3D was no problem, but learning how to apply toolpaths to the parts was all new to me. I’d say it took me a couple months of using the machine a few times a week to get comfortable with it
Excellent video. Very efficiently made to balance time, crucial information, directions and resources.
Thanks Luke! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🍻
Absolutely fantastic video. I'm just getting into the Acorn CNC with my PM-25. So many things I was curious about and you covered them. You do an excellent job explaining how to get from A to B to the novice.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching, Ron. Very glad you found it useful!
Very interesting and informative, thank you very much.
Can you upload that file?
Residual flux in the toroidal core causing huge inrush currents?
Nice, is your spindle direct drive or belt drive? If it is belt-driven perhaps you could make a reduction to trade some spindle torque for increased spindle speed, allowing you to up your feedrates.
It is belt driven, but unfortunately my spindle bearings are currently no good beyond around 3,500. I plan to change that!
@@adamdebowski2037Can’t wait! Thanks for the info about the bearing.
great video im a cnc mill guy i have done most everything cnc mill no 5 axis tho i been thinking about doing this myself
Highly recommend! It’s a fun journey
Can you tell me what the tool holders are in this video and where to obtain? Or is there something you would like better for the same purpose?
These are the TTS tool holders by tormach. I’ve got an entire video on R8 tool holding where I talk about them 👍
@@adamdebowski2037 Thanks!!
@@RickMurray-md1gg On top of Solidworks, though, I'm also running HSMWorks, which you get through a Subscription to Fusion360. So what you can do is not get solidworks at all, and only use Fusion360 for both CAD and CAM. I use Solidworks because I have been using for over 15 years, and switching to something else is just painful.
@@adamdebowski2037 Hi Adam, thanks for the additional info. I have Fusion 360, V-Carve and FreeCad. Playing with each to see which I like the best.
@@RickMurray-md1gg how do you like v carve compared to fusion. I’ve never used it. Is it better for routers?
Are you using any contactor in your control box?
I am not. I start the spindle motor manually.
@@adamdebowski2037 which solidworks version are you running? There are to many different versions to choose from
@@TheAnt0906 I’m running premium but you can run standard, it doesn’t really matter
Great video explaining the functionality in an easy to understand way. I’m new to the CNC hobby, having picked up a Onefinity CNC router. Learning Fusion 360 CAM is pretty neat. You got me thinking about my next machine!
Thanks for watching! Which cam software are you using for the router? Are you thinking about another router for your next machine, or a mill? Cheers! Adam
Beautiful concise! I’m showing this video to my Pops right away. We’re probably starting this process soon!
Great! It’s a fun journey. Enjoy the process!!
As a fellow Machinist and engineer. This video perfectly encapsulates. Overthinking, and the point of making something so simple soo perfect. I love it
😂
Did you need to select a different cable type on the Probe for the Acorn board?
Yes. I did not get the tormach connector. Just a two-lead wire. Would be better if you got a 3 lead wire to wire into the acorn so you can have both a probe trip circuit and a probe detect circuit.
Great work. I am subbed. I work with the Centroid system at work.
Thanks! What kind of machine are you running it on? How do you like it?
Hi Adam, I was looking how to duplicate a part and your video just shows up. Thanks. I am trying to find a place to duplicate a part for a very old washer machine, can you help with it? Thank you
Hi Rodrigo. Send some photos of the part to my email - [email protected]. Let’s have a look.
that's nice make a long tutorial please subbed and liked
Thanks for the support! I’ve got a long form video on it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/eYdo0sSCl9G_f5c.htmlsi=TIPcrm3zvBdjlW13
Once the part is created on solid works. Do you need any plug in or program for solid works to convert over to acorn to cnc? I’m new to cnc. Trying to see all the program I need to create and cnc a part
To create tool paths and G code for the Acorn, you need to program the part in a “CAM” software. You can get a CAM plugin for solidworks (I use HSMWorks) or you can use Fusion360 CAM. If you are designing the part in Solidworks I would recommend the HSMWorks CAM plugin for Solidworks.
Thank you! Your videos have been very helpful. I just notice there is CAMworks. Any input on these?
@@TheAnt0906 I’m glad you’re finding the videos helpful! CAMWorks is another CAM plugin for Solidworks. As far as I know, there are 4 different CAM plugins for solidworks: 1. HSMWorks 2. CAMWorks 3. SolidCAM 4. Solidworks CAM Solidworks CAM is, in my opinion awful and I wouldn’t consider it. I haven’t heard great things about CAMWorks but it’s much better than solidworks CAM. That being said I’ve never used it. If you have access to it I would give it a try and see what you think. Just make sure it either has, or you can get a post processor for Acorn. I know for sure that HSMWorks has a built in post processor for Acorn.
I’m still waiting for my ball screw kit to arrive for my 833TV. I have a few more miscellaneous parts that I need to start wiring the CNC enclosure. Your video is a good overview of tool setting. I do plan on using an electronic tool setter to make things a little easier. I’m going to probably bug you a few times when I get stuck!
I’m still waiting for my ball screw kit to arrive for my 833TV. I have a few more miscellaneous parts that I need to start wiring the CNC enclosure. Your video is a good overview of tool setting. I do plan on using an electronic tool setter to make things a little easier. I’m going to probably bug you a few times when I get stuck!
Nice! A tool setter wired into the control is going to be nice. Will save you a lot of time and mental energy. One lest thing to spend time/effort on before making chips. Feel free to reach out any time. You can email me at [email protected] with pictures/details if you like. Cheers - Adam.
I’m still waiting for my ball screw kit to arrive for my 833TV. I have a few more miscellaneous parts that I need to start wiring the CNC enclosure. Your video is a good overview of tool setting. I do plan on using an electronic tool setter to make things a little easier. I’m going to probably bug you a few times when I get stuck!
Hey, another cool thing you could do when you're in the run menu searching to a line number. If you hit graph at that point it will show you graphically what you have chosen to skip over and where you have chosen to start, which is a nice reality check
This is amazing and is going to save me a ton of time. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. For anybody reading this - this is the kind of support you get from Centroid! Keith is a developer of the Acorn. Not going to get this with with other guys.... Cheers, Keith!
When you install new software, you can copy your existing tool library from the old cncm directory to the new one and when you restart, it will auto magically appear
The most practical use of the 3D digitizing is when you want to copy a hand-shaped part. For example I have a customer that create fishing lure molds with an EDM machine. He hands shapes them out of wood , then uses the centroid to grid digitize it and then he cuts the exact same thing out of a piece of graphite then uses that graphite on an EDM machine to make a mold. He does the entire process without any CAD/Cam modeling!
Very cool! Modelling hand shaped parts in Solidworks would take me days. I wish your customer would post some videos. Would be great to see.
@@adamdebowski2037 I am not this customer, but if you want a video with this workflow : kzread.info/dash/bejne/q2Gq2chuc5Szj5c.html
What tool number did you assign the probe? Does the probe have an offset or is it "0"? I'm coming from a mach3 setup where the probe isn't set as a tool and a script automatically compensates the offset of the probe. "0" on that machine is the nose of the spindle. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how to adapt that set of tools (and thier numbering) to cnc12.
I set my probe as T1 and it doesn’t have a height offset. It is my reference tool that all tools are offset from. I believe you can use any tool as the reference tool at any time so long as that’s the tool that’s selected when you generate they “z ref” surface & when you click “manual measure” to calculate the offset. Acorn is really helpful with calculating the actual offset for you. I never manually enter height offsets but you can.
You’ve got me thinking… I’m going to test this and get back to you…
@@adamdebowski2037 I'm sorry.
as a designer i’m interested in running acorn on a cnc im building, but i can’t get past the gui, i honestly think its the worst looking gui ive ever seen. are there any acorn reskins that are easy and straightforward to set up?
Skinning is possible with the Acorn so I imagine they’re out there but I haven’t personally experimented. Check out the skinning manual from centroid: www.centroidcnc.com/downloads/custom_ui/Skinning%20Lite%20manual.pdf
You can change all the colors with the color picker in CNC 12 and the vcp is fully editable. You can change any of the buttons, graphics, colors, words, or functions that you like.
kzread.info/dash/bejne/opiCw7WCXaTad9I.htmlsi=XwCmpLqnRRD_3bR9 kzread.info/dash/bejne/jGiD3LlpktTKY7g.htmlsi=b5zEunBcN-9kw_E7
Fast and functional, used many others.. Glamor and glitz is a distraction when operating machine
Great video
Thanks for watching 🍻
still running mach 3 , and using a c11g board form cncforpc $60.00 and done, centiord is lot more money $$$!
Very glad to hear from you @MakoSharkCNC7730. You make awesome stuff and run some really long programs. Was there anything you saw in this video that you found “better” than Mach3? Did you ever find yourself wishing you went with a different controller? I’ve heard a few really bad reviews about mach3 but it doesn’t seem like you’re having any problems. Would love to see you put out a video about how you machine your models. How many different setups do you run to make a car model like that?
I built a acorn mill and lathe both working great easy to use
Which lathe did you convert with acorn? I’ve got an old, manual, Bulgarian lathe that I’ve wanted to convert but have no idea what I’m getting myself into. Would need to make a custom conversion kit for it.
@@adamdebowski2037 I bought a new Bolton tools 9332 I believe and made all the brackets then added DMM servo's built a enclosure
Thanks for the video! I like it. But I wanted to comment about the higher cost when you buy from Centroid. You also pointed out that when you need tech support you talk to a real human. The cost of the tech support (and all other overhead) has to be paid somewhere. In this case, Centroid builds the overhead cost into the items they sell. I have no problems with any business doing that. Don't consider this a slight on your video. I like your video. Also, my only association with Centroid is I bought their basic package (list price) from them and done bench tests on it. I started my CNC project just before the pandemic. I made lots of progress during the pandemic. When work started up again I have not had time for CNC project work. I hope to get back to it soon.
You read my mind. I posted the video and wish I had mentioned this. You are 100% correct, and the price is more than reasonable for what you get!
Thanks 👍
Thanks for watching 🍻
Very, very timely video! I’m about to go dust off my mill and router driven by Acorns. It’s been about 6 months since I’ve used them so it’s always a bit of a learning curve to start back up. I also have Swissi’s probe add on which is great. You might check into it if you haven’t already. And I also use Solidworks with the HSM works add on, which you prompted me to try.
Adam, what a great job, connecting the main spindle motor with a VDF, and an encoder is relatively simple, Marty has a couple of videos where he explains everything step by step. I have a question for you about the configuration of the Drewtronics 5000 probe, they recently gave me one and I have not been able to configure it, because I have doubts about the connection and configuration of the Wizard, in the first attempts, the probe always remained closed and did not respond If you could send me the configuration photos, I would greatly appreciate it. best regard . Oswaldo Adam, que buen trabajo, lo de conectar el motor del husillo principal con un VDF, y un encoder es relativamente sencillo, Marty tiene un par de videos donde explica todo el paso a paso. Yo le tengo una pregunta sobre la configuracion de la sonda Drewtronics 5000 , hace poco me regalaron una y no he podido configurala, porque tengo dudas en la coneccion y la configuracion del Wizard, en los primeros intentos , siempre la sonda quedó cerrada y no responde al toque, si me pudiera enviar las fotos de configuracion le agradeceria mucho. cordial saludo . Oswaldo
Hi Oswaldo. Thanks for the tip! I’d be happy to send you some screen shots of my probe configuration. Send an email to [email protected] and I’ll reply with some info.
Very nice video. I have Centroid Acorn on my mill and it has been rock solid.
I agree. It’s been working great for years 👍
There is a lot to be said for having a nice plug and play system. I'm sure that building your own CNC has enough challenges any way. BTW, really neat wiring in the electrical box!
Agreed! I spent all the time on cable management inside the panel. Did not have as much luck with the cable management from the panel to the machine! What a mess….
Do you prefer imperial or metric for end mills?
I use only imperial end mills, but only because they’re the most available in my area, and because I work mostly in imperial units. If I lived in Europe, I’d be using metric everything for the same reasons. You can also mix and match if that’s easier for you for any reason. From a performance standpoint, one isn’t “better” than the other. It’s just preference.