I am setting up my CNC depot RM70C on my new EX controller and am a bit confused about acorn configuration. Hopefully someone that has traveled this road has some insight they could share.
Machine is a PRO60120 with a fixed fork style rack. Before switching to EX I was running Mach4 with full ATC functionality through Alex Burt’s M6 script.
I have watched Corbin’s videos back and forth to see if I missed something. The hardware swap works as it should, drawbar and case pressure. I have loaded Corbin’s cncm package and configured output 6. The new skin is in the VCP and all buttons work as expected. I set up all of my pocket positions and enabled ATC in ATC set up. Tool table is set with all of my tools and pocket numbers. Macros generated. I am also using the virtual drawbar button.
When I try to do a fetch tool or put back tool the Z axis rises to home and asks for cycle start. After pressing cycle start CNC 12 says job finished. No movement in X or Y towards the rack. T and H numbers change to the tool called for, but no physical tool change happens. Controller dialog says
T1 M6
G43 H1
This is exactly the MDI command I used in Mach4 to do a tool change.
My question is, is there any additional set up in CNC12 ATC? Corbin made no mention of this in his videos or documentation. I tried setting up the ATC configuration in CNC12 and I am getting the same results. I tried with the enable custom M6 on and off and same results. I checked mfunc6_corbin.mac in the CorbinsWorkshop folder in cnmc, and it looks good to me.
I like the way Corbin set up his UI and would like to keep it, but is there an easier/better way to do this through the native acorn ATC wizard?
Also, thanks Corbin for putting in the work and on these machines and putting it out there for all to benefit. Much appreciated.
I think the thing to decide is who’s ATC software do you want to use… Back when @corbin set this all up we (Avid) didn’t have any real ATC support in our version of CNC12. (Technically it’s all in CNC12, but it wasn’t setup)
Corbin did an excellent job getting his set of macros up and running and a fair number of people are successfully using them now. If you want to go that route I’d ping Corbin, he’s on here a fair amount.
The other way you can go is to use our beta CNC12 software that now supports fixed racks and generic spindles. It’s still in beta, but should be functional for what you want to do. It would require a from-scratch setup though.
My choice would be the one that works All kidding aside, my job is a professional cabinet maker, not necessarily a CNC machine hobbyist. So whatever would get me back to cutting parts would be my preferred method. I understand AVID is in a transitional spot with there own ATC set up launching, and the sheer amount of people with 3rd party spindles. I also get that Corbin’s videos are over a year old and AVID CNC12 has moved on in that time. Finding information that is current is a little difficult. So, whatever advice I could get would be very appreciated.
I assumed that this would be a bit easier. Silly me. I am learning a lot though.
That is the new beta profile, although we’re launching a new one today with a bunch of fixes so I’d wait for that one (it’s u32)
As far as what would be the best choice… I’m sort of NOT telling you because you’ve got a bit of a custom setup. If you run a custom spindle and VFD with our stuff it may require a little re-wiring and understanding how our software stack works.
Corbin’s stuff is the same story.
Having the latest and greatest software isn’t a requirement, if what you have works, it will keep working that way day in and day out, which is probably what you want in a cabinet shop. From the sounds of it you’re pretty close to getting it working so maybe Corbin’s stuff is the easier path to go…
I will message him and see if can offer any insight. I will also wait for you new release as a back up plan.
I am not sure why this has been such a struggle so far. I had Mach4 with ATC up and running in a few hours. I have been at this EX set up for over a week now. Still haven’t done a test cut.
I’m out on vacation this week with pretty limited reception. I can definitely help you get it figured out when I’m back next week. It sounds like the m6func macro isn’t right… I’d start by looking there to make sure it calls my custom version.
@eric I hope to port my UI over to your version at some point! I was just waiting till it was out of beta to avoid having to keep merging updates. Maybe I should start doing it now, since you have fixed rack support.
Interesting observation after doing more set up and testing. When I make changes in the Acorn wizard and write settings it removes my mfunc.m6 file from cnmc. I am not sure if this is just my system or a larger bug. It explains why I was having so much trouble getting the ATC set up. Now that I know I have a copy of my cnmc file on a thumb drive and drop the m6 file back in after any changes. Hopefully it will be solid once I have all of my profile changes wrapped up.
This is not a bug, this is intended behavior from Centroid. You can disable this behavior in the advanced side of the wizard under “ATC setup” or “CNC preferences” look for a switch that says “Custom M6” and turn that on.
Hi @Eric , is there any functional reason, ATC aside, that one with a custom fixed rack and non-Avid spindle should switch over to the new beta? Are there any machine performance enhancements (EX Servo, Avid Laser) that would make it worthwhile/recommended? I think for people that have or are buying Avid’s new ATC system (which is awesome) the ATC software is 100% amazing and if I were using it (hopefully someday) then I’d for sure be super happy with it and how it works. That being said, I’ve been using the beta with my custom fixed rack and spindle but, personally, I strongly prefer Corbin’s fixed ATC solution as, for me personally, it’s much simpler, faster to get set up, to make changes because it’s more direct and open ended. I’ve relied on Corbin’s ATC solution since Mach4 and would have been lost without it. I certainly appreciate that effort is being made to accommodate those of us who already have custom ATC setups.
We’ve done a TON of work to make things flexible and to run smooth. If you’ve checked both of those boxes, unless there’s some feature we have that you want, I’d say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
All kidding aside, my job is a professional cabinet maker, not necessarily a CNC machine hobbyist. So whatever would get me back to cutting parts would be my preferred method. I understand AVID is in a transitional spot with there own ATC set up launching, and the sheer amount of people with 3rd party spindles. I also get that Corbin’s videos are over a year old and AVID CNC12 has moved on in that time. Finding information that is current is a little difficult. So, whatever advice I could get would be very appreciated.