👀 New Controls "Unofficial" Launch

[Eric]

@GeneralYoda

Do you know if it will work with other ATC spindles like cncdepot’s?

@grossmsj

I can’t see why the CNC Depot ATCs won’t work great with the new EX controller.

Just like our Mach controllers this new EX control uses standard wiring/communication to make the spindle do “spindle things” for example:

A simple relay starts and stops the spindle. 0-10 volts controls the speed of the spindle. It’s all done using our same 14 pin connector too, so if you have one of our VFDs already you can just plug it into our new controller and be off and running:

(This is the Mach controller pinout)

https://www.avidcnc.com/support/instructions/electronics/pnp/manual/20.1/schematics/#14-pin-control-cable

Our software mods for tool changes in the Centroid EX controllers will work with any spindle/router too. At the end of the day all we’re doing is starting/stopping the spindle and controlling the speed.

Our “MTC” system of manual tool height measurement will work with any spindle/router too because all we’re doing is measuring tools.

So in short, if you could use it with our old system it will work with our new system.

@Sergio

Will it be a Hiteco ATC spindle, or a different brand? Curious minds want to know

We’ll have more detail to share on that soon, however I’ll leave you with this quote from Ahren:

@AvidCNC

First up is a “Quick Tool Change” spindle. This will provide the ATC spindle allowing users to quickly change tools with the drawbar using a button on the spindle, and integrates seamlessly with the tool height setter that comes standard on EX controllers.

@AvidCNC

The first round of ATC spindles will be 100% plug and play with our existing 8.7HP VFD controllers, so if you already have our 8.7HP spindle system, you can reuse your VFD controller with the new ATC spindle. If you are planning for a new machine, you can purchase an 8.7HP spindle system now and be ready to add ATC when it’s available (and your 8.7HP spindle can be swapped back in for heavy cutting operations or as a backup spindle any time).