When are we going to be seeing the ex controller schematics posted that have been promised?
We’re almost done. If you have a specific question I can answer it here
If they are easy to answer I had a few questions I was trying to piece together about schematics, but I don’t really need the answers soon so I can also wait for schematics.
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How Are the 8 inputs used? Is it something like 5 for the limit switches, 1 for the tool setter, and 1 for air pressure sensor? Does that mean there is an unused one, or does the setter use 2 inputs?
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What is the pinout for the cable with the tool setter? I was thinking of comparing my existing one to the one that came with the ex controller, but hadn’t yet reverse engineered the cable.
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What are the pinouts for the aux 3 and 4 ports? I have opt’s xt-50 laser and imagine it can be hooked up through them, but haven’t really investigated that yet either.
Thanks, and happy new year to all.
| Input1 | NC | Estop |
|---|---|---|
| Input2 | NO | XYZ Prox |
| Input3 | NO | Y2 Prox |
| Input4 | NO | Mobile Touch Plate |
| Input5 | NC | Fixed Touch Plate |
| Input6 | NC | Spindle Fault |
| Input7 | NO | Air Pressure |
| Input7 | NO | Plasma Float |
| Input8 | NC | Touch Probe |
The tool height setter is wired NC
Wiring for the laser is the same as it was on Mach systems, so you can use this guide:
https://www.avidcnc.com/support/instructions/laser/technical/23.1/schematics/
Wow, that was a super fast reply on new years day! Thanks.
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@Eric So if you wanted to use probe detect on input 7 and probe signal on input 8, in a single cable, you would have to re-wire the m12 connections, correct?
Yup! That’s what I’ve done on my personal machine.
On the NO probes (like the Centroid one) I highly recommend the probe detect. If you’re using an NC probe (normally closed) you can get away without the “probe detect” because the probe is normally closed. You can map a tool number to probe detect, so when you’re on say tool 10 the controller goes into probe protect mode (it won’t allow high speed jogging or the spindle being turned on)
Cool. I look forward to the full schematics for the Ex controller. I’m now quite familiar with the Acorn board (I’m building a separate laser only machine based on it) but the Avid interface board (the one with the relay board attached) is still a bit of a mystery. This thread definitely helps.
I got the Centroid probe but haven’t started using it yet – I intend to use it with probe detect on a re-wired aux 4.
Good choice.
The schematics will definitely help. There’s not a ton of magic in that board. It mostly just passes signals around to avoid wiring soup:
That box is the original prototype that I built (and am still running) As you can see there’s a ton of wires in there that the “interconnect” board eliminates.
I can believe that. My laser box is already a mess and still needs the high voltage work and panel mounts completed.
(Acorn four axis using gecko g540 to drive steppers and a J-Tech laser driver; npm proximity sensors)
I was not involved in that decision to not sell the boards separately. If I had to guess it’s probably a simple supply issue. These new controllers are popular so we’re likely prioritizing new orders first.
What I can promise you is that there is no ill intent here.
I understand that decision is frustrating to you. It sounds like you have already talked to support about it.
In the spirit of this forum let’s continue to support each other and keep the conversation positive.
If you have some frustrations you would like to share please DM me. Happy to talk through them.
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Hi Eric. Do you have the same type of pin info for the outputs?
Yep:
|Relay1|Laser Deploy/Air Assist|
|Relay2|Laser PWM| <<Not a relay
|Relay3|Relay Out1|
|Relay4|Relay Out2|
|Relay5|Spindle FWD|
|Relay6|Torch On|
|Relay7|No fault out|
|Relay8|Y2 Step Disable|
Relay 8 is an Axis Brake Release on servos
Thanks Eric. I am getting the same response from Avid sales/support as others. I already have Clearpath motors working on a custom Mach4/SmoothStepper configuration so I don’t need the full Ex Controller Upgrade. After my first call with Cory where I indicated what parts I needed, I have gotten the silent treatment; no answers to Emails as to why quotes promised have never arrived. I get it. Its a business and I am a pretty low priority but it would have been nice if they just responded stating that conclusion.
I am fine since I have been able to purchase all the electronics parts I need for the upgrade from other sources and downloaded the Avid CNC12 profile to get started. I found a tool setter and Z axis brake that will probably be superior to what Avid offers as well so I think it is all working out for the best. I really appreciate your very quick responses and videos.
You are not a low priority. We’re a small company and this controller swap effort started with me and a couple of engineers and over nearly a 2 year period has involved every single person that works here. It’s been the biggest thing we’ve done in many many years.
As I said earlier this new controller has been VERY popular. There are a bazillion little parts that go into it, and we do a ton of work to source and track all of them, right down to the length of wires that go in, all of the ferrules, washers, etc. The part count alone on one control box is REALLY big.
We have retooled how we build, test ship controllers and machines in huge ways over the last 8 months.
I am not on the purchasing/supply side of things (in fact I don’t even work at HQ) however I know that sourcing has been something we’re still very much dialing in.
Part of the value we add here is that we design, build, source and test everything. So when you get that control box it’s been through a battery of tests: (including throwing test boxes off of ladders!)
(That’s just one of the many tests and checks we do)
With a new product as complex as this we are getting a lot of support tickets. So much so that I’ve jumped in along with one of the owners to help get through them. I suspect that’s why you haven’t heard anything back yet.
Also, selling something such as a board is more than just throwing it in a box. The only way we have to test them is when they are installed in a controller. We’re not just going to toss an untested component in a box and send it to you.
My guess (And this is a guess because I am not part of the HQ team that packs, assembles and ships) is that the decision to not sell these individual parts at this time is that we just don’t have the testing and infrastructure setup to do so, not for any nefarious reasons.
But! We are a company that has historically not built a moat around our tech to keep people from doing exactly what you want to do.
Our technical manual is SO CLOSE to being done. Also, one of the big reasons we went with the Centroid system is that it’s so open, so easy to modify and has a HUGE community around it that will help you figure out just about anything.
This is why we don’t protect our software. You’re free to use it, you’re free to manipulate it to fit a custom setup like you have.
Check this post out:
I have a fully functioning Acorn system that I run every day. This was prototype #1. I built it with nothing more than off the shelf parts (really just a bunch of din rail connectors) and one ribbon cable to breakout board for the 860 board. That’s it. This is totally DIY. It runs our software because all of the IO matches and to this day it’s my most used controller.
Hopefully this adds a little clarity to what’s going on… trust me when I say this: We’re all big nerds here too and we love it when folks like yourselves tinker. We’re doing our best to help you, but there are a lot of competing priorities right now given the scale of this new controller project.
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I had an Email exchange with Cory and all is good with me. I did get quotes for the hardware items I requested but I have already purchased other alternative hardware.
The inputs you listed earlier must be for the stepper motor option. Which input is used for the “Drive OK” for the servo option? Are there any other differences in the input and output definitions for servos?
Input 6. On stepper that’s for “spindle OK” on servo that’s for “Drive OK”
On servos spindle OK is tied to the motor fault signals too, so if either your spindle or your motor faults you get a “drive fault” and motion on the machine will stop.