# Countdown timer on Ex Controller Graph? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [June 25, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919 "2025-06-25T18:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jaybird64](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jaybird64/32/4973_2.png) [@Jaybird64](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Jaybird64)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/1 "2025-06-25T18:43:59Z")
I was wonder if Avid has ever considered placing a countdown timer on the Graph interface? There’s plenty of room on the left side. I just think it would be helpful to have a time reference at-a-glance. Any thoughts on this for future updates? ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/2 "2025-06-25T19:50:06Z")
There’s an “elapsed time” when running a G code job, and when you graph there’s a time estimate, it’s in the very top in the GRAPH menu ---
**Author:** ![Jaybird64](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jaybird64/32/4973_2.png) [@Jaybird64](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Jaybird64)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/3 "2025-06-25T21:25:27Z")
I’ve seen the elapsed time in the GRAPH screen but after the job has started and is running, it’s not displayed in the Graph screen. What am I missing? ![IMG_8849](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/6/65f84eb058187a5f0e5d6bf0546e64bb1509039f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![grossmsj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/grossmsj/32/4903_2.png) [@grossmsj](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/grossmsj)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/4 "2025-06-25T21:50:57Z")
@corbin is looking into to a countdown timer. [Working on some runtime info.. - Centroid Community CNC Support Forum](https://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=11698) Right now, CNC12 will give a fairly accurate estimate of how long the run takes (as Eric mentions), you can see where the job is on the screen as it runs, and you do the math in your head. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/5 "2025-06-25T21:56:32Z")
When the machine is idle press Graph from the main screen. There is a time for the job there at the top. When you’re running a job there is an elapsed time on the screen ---
**Author:** ![corbin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/corbin/32/2800_2.png) [@corbin](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/corbin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/6 "2025-06-25T22:24:35Z")
Yeah! I’m on vacation for a little while, but I hope to finish up the timer when I get back home. The source in my repository is up to date and can be built with Visual Studio. ---
**Author:** ![jjneeb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jjneeb/32/244_2.png) [@jjneeb](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/jjneeb)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/7 "2025-06-26T03:22:40Z")
I had this on my mach4 screen, and it was very helpful to keep track of bigger jobs. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/e/ee7bdb004e34aee68de61bced7a11ad2f4822731.png) Would be nice to have something similar on CNC12. ---
**Author:** ![corbin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/corbin/32/2800_2.png) [@corbin](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/corbin)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/8 "2025-06-26T04:29:21Z")
Yeah Jim, that’s what I ended up doing, in a little always on top window. Did you get Visual Studio installed? You can compile and run the app. ---
**Author:** ![jjneeb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jjneeb/32/244_2.png) [@jjneeb](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/jjneeb)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 6:51am UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/9 "2025-06-26T06:51:33Z")
No, i haven’t done anything in the way of updates to my cncA12 environment, I have been too busy lately. I’m also a little leary of having yet another unattached app in the environment. We already have cnc12 which is kinda locked in there as a fixed size and not minimizable, then the VCP which is a fixed size, but minimizable. Is there any way to run cnc12 within another shell so that we could have space for cnc12, the VCP, and then some space for user customizable apps that use the API? Then make that whole parent shell minimizable? Or are you using multiple desktops? Or maybe a 4k monitor os the best way to have some extra screen space since cnc12 seams to be a fixed mumber of pixels? I’m just getting tired of the messy desktop this all creates. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/eric/32/3220_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/10 "2025-06-26T12:50:12Z")
If you have multiple monitors you can set CNC12 to be on a particular screen ---
**Author:** ![Jaybird64](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jaybird64/32/4973_2.png) [@Jaybird64](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Jaybird64)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/11 "2025-06-26T13:38:45Z")
That’s going to be on the menu of “must have” and to-do’s list! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jaybird64](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jaybird64/32/4973_2.png) [@Jaybird64](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Jaybird64)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/12 "2025-07-11T18:05:45Z")
Getting ready to buy another monitor. What is the preferred resolution or mode (i.e., 16:9) to display the CNC12? Anything in particular that I need to be aware of? ---
**Author:** ![berrianmtn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/berrianmtn/32/4852_2.png) [@berrianmtn](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/berrianmtn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/13 "2025-07-11T21:03:45Z")
16x9 and a native resolution of 1920x1080. No need to go more as CNC12 won’t use it. Ref: [CENTROID CNC control CNC PC Performance requirements](https://www.centroidcnc.com/cnc_pc_performance_requirements.html) I have [this touch screen monitor](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM7W7GFV?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3) and paid ~$275 last November. It is a perfect touchscreen monitor and IP54 rated for dust exposure as a bonus. Looks like this particular one isn’t available, but if a similar model is I would highly recommend it. I have a second almost identical monitor from Philips for my acorn/CNC12 dedicated laser system also. ---
**Author:** ![Jaybird64](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/jaybird64/32/4973_2.png) [@Jaybird64](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/Jaybird64)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/countdown-timer-on-ex-controller-graph/4919/14 "2025-07-12T16:21:38Z")
> [@berrianmtn](#): > > It is a perfect touchscreen monitor and IP54 rated for dust exposure Good idea on the touch screen and IP54 specs. I’ll keep an eye out for something similar.