Acorn + Clearpath CNC Control Box Bench Test and Overview
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today, we're doing a bench test and deep dive into the Acorn and Clearpath servo control box for my new CNC build. We'll look at the design and layout of the box, power supplies, and wire routing, and finally power it all up and do some bench testing.
00:00 Intro
01:19 Acorn and Ether1616 Controllers
03:03 Clearpath Interface
05:29 Layout and Wire Routing
15:49 Power Domains
20:10 Flyback Diodes and Snubbers
21:51 Control PC
24:53 Wireless MPG Pendant
26:07 Connecting Everything
27:19 Servo Brake
29:21 Bench Test: Motors and Brake
32:53 I/O Configuration
34:58 Bench Test: Pneumatics and Dust Collection
35:50 Bench Test: Servo Fault
37:02 Wrap
I'm going to attempt to list all of the major components here, by source, but I'll certainly miss something:
*This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Amazon:
Wiegmann 20x20x8 NEMA1 Enclosure (eBay*): ebay.us/UpVh5w
Noctua 120mm 5V Premium Quiet Fan (Amazon*): amzn.to/3Lu1oa3
Noctua 40mm 5V Premium Quiet Fan (Amazon*): amzn.to/3pSo22X
120mm Fan Filters (Amazon*): amzn.to/3puY5Ge
Centroid Acorn Motion Controller (Amazon*): amzn.to/3GboLRU
Centroid Wireless MPG Pendant (Amazon*): amzn.to/349Xsuo
Mean Well 24V 2.5A DIN-Rail Power Supply (Amazon*): amzn.to/2Zl3AZK
Mean Well 24V 1A DIN-Rail Power Supply (Amazon*): amzn.to/3sy8e75
Mean Well 5V 3A DIN-Rail Power Supply (Amazon*): amzn.to/3IEWx3Z
24VDC Coil DIN-Rail SPDT Relay (Amazon*): amzn.to/3C5iaYK
1/4" Pneumatic PTC Bulkhead Passthru (Amazon*): amzn.to/3LMbLWK
Ferrule Crimper Kit (Amazon*): amzn.to/30hUfAQ
SlimRun Ethernet Cable Right Angle 1ft (Amazon*): amzn.to/347qAT5
SlimRun Ethernet Cable 6in (Amazon*): amzn.to/3Cfvom0
SlimRun Ethernet Cable 2ft (Amazon*): amzn.to/3tqEzfl
Shielded RJ45 Bulkhead Passthru (Amazon*): amzn.to/3GZACD1
Beelink i5-8279U/16G/500G Mini Computer (Amazon*): amzn.to/3vyjt11
14in Portable Touch Monitor (Amazon*): amzn.to/345v2S6
ServoElements:
NEMA34 Servo Brake MBC034-24-012: bit.ly/3sCoMLm
Automation Direct:
Weigmann 20x20x8 NEMA Enclosure: bit.ly/3IBRLo7
Wiegmann Perforated Subpanel: bit.ly/3K4KLA8
ESTOP Switch: bit.ly/36PG3YN
Pneumatic Valve Manifold: bit.ly/3iWUJGd
Pneumatic Valve: bit.ly/3ICdVGN
Pneumatic Valve Blanking Plate: bit.ly/2E0WC6d
Wire Duct (1x1-1/2): bit.ly/3hv1WPc
Wire Duct (1x3): bit.ly/3C9VOpi
Illuminated Selector Switch: bit.ly/3vyoir9
10A Supplemental Protector: bit.ly/3pwDwcy
Contactor: bit.ly/36PGx13
Contactor Snubber: bit.ly/3IBL05r
1/4" PTC Pneumatic Fitting: bit.ly/3Mg8MGm
1/4" PTC Pneumatic Fitting 90deg: bit.ly/2YkGP95
1/4" Pneumatic Tubing: bit.ly/3K8yk6p
DIN rail: bit.ly/346cEIQ
DIN Terminal (Gray): bit.ly/3HBFzlJ
DIN Terminal (Green): bit.ly/3psoft5
DIN Terminal Separator: bit.ly/3HCOhQS
DIN Terminal End Cap: bit.ly/3vyoir9
DIN Terminal Jumpers (3X): bit.ly/3KaXEZD
DIN Terminal Jumpers (4X): bit.ly/35mtt2M
Teknik:
ClearPath NEMA34 Integrated Servo: teknic.com/model-info/CPM-SDS...
IPC5 Power 72V Power Supply: teknic.com/IPC-5/
Centroid:
Acorn, Ether1616, MPG Pendant: www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_...
CNC4PC:
Clearpath Connector Board: www.cnc4pc.com/c86accp-clearp...
Raw Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
I seriously enjoy seeing all the thought you put into your builds. You joke about "overdoing" things at times, but you're just doing things to the best possible standard. Which is one of the biggest reasons I respect your work. Just sayin'.
A lot going on with this build, can't wait to see the hardware.
This reminds me of my first job at an elevator company right after I graduated from school. My primary task was to wire-up control boxes. Each elevator had its own unique features, so every control box had a distinct layout, although many of the features were quite common across them.
I worked at that job for a little over a year. However, the company eventually relocated to a place that was not easily accessible for me, so I had to find a new job. They did offer to pay for my driving lessons, but even with a car, the new location was a 35-45 minute drive away, whereas it had been under 10 minutes by bike. Before I joined the company, I had also completed an internship there during my college days. Watching this video brought back some fond memories. Thanks!
As always, you have been right on the mark with your builds, and this one is tops. You take the time to build it right the first time. Thank You for taking the time to take us along on your journey.
James, I look forward to every one of your videos. This one didn’t disappoint. I’m anxious to see the machine that you’re going to control with this system! Thank you for sharing.
James, thank you SO MUCH for posting this. Seriously, the amount of extra work it takes to document an already large undertaking isn't something that most would do. I just bought a PM-30 today and had reached the conclusion of using clearpath so the timing of your video is wonderful!
Thanks again man!
Very impressive James. Tons of work and planning we don't get to see, but the proof is in the pudding.......nothing second rate here......top, top notch.......my own computer expertise is limited to: plug A into slot B and turn on, turn off.......the way you explain things and the logic and reasoning behind them makes all this understandable, albeit at a toddlers level. The way you do things and the way you present them are some of the reasons we watch. The work itself takes tons of time, and the filming and editing have to equal or exceed even that....BRAVO !!!!!!! Looking forward to follow ups on this and even more of you projects. Thanks for sharing w us.
Don
A CNC control box 101. I am again impressed how thoroughly you explain these complex subjects. Looking forward to see the final machine.
Amazing job explaining the thought process. This will let anyone thinking of doing a similar project grasp many of the key considerations. Not implying it is complete, but everything in this video is important either safety or/and success. Great content!
Very thankful for your videos! Thank you for all the attention and time you put into your work! Very inspiring!
Impressive control panel design and build. Can't wait for the rest of the build.
In so many videos, I have no idea what you’re talking about …but I’m still mesmerized by your videos!
I have a real appreciation for people with attention to detail but ur work is always next level and so well thought out. Im always learning something new and ur work inspires new ways of thinking, really appreciate the time u put into ur videos.
Great information. My installation is very similar to your system. Your tutorial saved me DAYS of work and frustration. Thank you.
This video made me remember a networking equipment conference I translated many years ago called "Are you a cable management fanatic?", but also real-time systems designer Bruce Powel Douglass' insistance on "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing!" I envy Clough42. Playing with cool stuff, and taking the time to do things right.
Awesome build! Always good when none of the "magic smoke" escapes!
Very interesting and well presented information here. Excellent use of limited space in that box and nice layout. Great video, thanks!
I really admire your work on this project. From my early career industrial controls engineer perspective, your panels look better than a lot of what I've seen people run in the field.
As a former Controls Tech myself, it seems like most control panels would inevitably end up with all of the wire duct covers laying in the bottom of the cabinet and wires streaming everywhere, along with notes and pinouts scribbled on the inside of the panel door. lol
@@yellowcrescent so you expect us to fix stuff and keep it pretty? Talk to my boss about lost opportunity 😶
@@kevinwassellsr.5646I’ve worked on aviation assets, computer networks and electrical wiring for complex systems. It goes along way to wire stuff and route correctly. Especially when rerunning cables. Yes your time is vital but the reality is your not a design engineer. Does the box have airflow. Did you impede airflow by not reinstalling the cables in the channel. Will it still work, yes. Will it break down quicker most likely. Heat is the biggest enemy against electronic components. They tend to design at optimal thermal specs which ride the line to get the most out of it without putting as much thermal management. Moving cables out of the airways goes long way to help with that without adding any more components to the design. So yeah pretty is sometimes there for vibration, thermal designs or ESD/EMI concerns. Not to be pretty or convenient for you to repair. Just something for you to think about as you play “where does this wire run?” in a rats nest.
A very well organized controller box. You have obviously put a great deal of thought in to the design.
I can't believe you just dropped all this knowledge for free. Thanks so much for all your vids!
I switched to Acron about 2 years ago. Glad to see you following.
Nicely designed ... Beautifully tested ... Amazingly demonstrated .... Thanks for Sharing ... Stay Safe...
REALLY appreciate the technical details; you are a super craftsman.
Thank you have been looking for a list of components needed and finally found it with a good explanation of how to.
Oh she’s going to be a smooth bit of kit with brains that well laid out 👍🏻
Very concise. I liked the content and your delivery.
Super nice job! Thanks for the detailed explanations.
Quite the complex and professional build!
Thanks … for quite some time this is exactly what i was in need of. I am entering my second half of life and will open a small cnc shop and in the process of building of converting a mini lathe and mill then onto a knee mill … hopefully all by the end of 2023 i will have completed this … i decided long ago on the centroid controllers and. They just came out with a new one i already recieved the acorn that i will use on the lathe … i took Mechatronics and i am studying electronics on my own. In February i will be. Taking an EBA ( electronics Board Assembly ) class ( accelerated while working full time in a production cnc. Shop … I would like to express my gratitude for your approach as i am sure many others do to. It is helping me a great deal. Mainly in confidence. In the 90s i worked in an aero space company ( Nurad ) loved it . I served the better part of an. Apprenticeship as a machinist before that just died off in this country for the most part and as you know things changed so i did too .. well i am back at what i love thanks to people like yourself that share your talents selflessly to help others .. THANKS.
Really looking forward to seeing the whole system in operation all very nice kit.
This is very much 'a deep dive into the acorn' on several levels. Firstly the days of systems and product research, secondly the days of building, and thirdly the hours of preparation and practice to put on a seamless video show oozing with content. It is no wonder I have bookmarked this.
At various points during the video I did my own due diligence. You seem to have constructed, broadly speaking, a serious piece of ability. Nice work indeed. On the other hand you have clearly moved from the 'I built a cnc router for $500' crowd. This is serious pricing in Oz dollars but traversing dead ends is not cheap either. At this point the question is 'Which follow-on do I see?'
Great project. The panel turned out great.
Great build with all the juicy details! I purchased the ClearCore motion controller for one of my projects which works well, but at the expense of difficulty. The Acorn overall seems easier as a daily use case. Both have an initial learning curve.
I just retrofitted a 2001 AXYZ industrial router with the Centroid Acorn controller and it is such a nice system!! Went with DMM servos and added the KP-3 touch probe which makes setup of complex jigs on the router so easy.
Was giggling and grinning ear to ear first time it was up and running 😁
Can’t wait to see your finished product!! 😎
how accurate the router now?
I enjoyed putting this in my eyes. Thank you.
Excellent work as always.
V nice wiring in your panel, you have convinced me to wait for clearpath servos to arrive here in NZ
Great job man!! after watching this i copied you and added another power supply for my Z motor brake..
Learned a lot and such a neat job with the wiring and well thought out layout. I have almost the same setup
and even closer after adding that extra power supply. Thanks for sharing!Excited to see everything on your machine.
Excellent build Thanks for the video
Awesome build
James your videos are always surprising, and truly inspiring. I just cant get over the way your video content keeps on supporting my hobby/semi-professional endeavors! The cycle seems to go something like this: I will finally decide on buying a certain product (first was the Elegoo resin 3D printer, and second was the Centroid Acorn CNC controller!!!) to satisfy some need one the projects I am working on has. Give it a couple days, MAYBE a week or two, and I'll be darned if a notification for your newest "what done" tutorial doesn't show up on my phone, featuring, you guessed it! The device I just ordered! Small world? Sure, but let me just extend a sincere thank you either way. There would be so many wasted bottles of resin from failed prints on my machine if you wouldn't have made that Video, guiding me through my first prints! Now, on my CNC conversion, I get the pleasure of seeing you "overdo" the Acorn setup, and LONG before I even bench test mine!!! You're nothing short of a badass and I appreciate your extra detailed work, good sir!
Thanks. Are you planning on buying a laser soon?
@@Clough42 😳.....I AM currently watching videos on how to drive DVD burner lasers for use as an engraving laser!....wait....who ARE you! Lmao! (Seriously though, currently watching "styropyro's" video "Crazy Keychain Laser Pointer Upgrades. 5mW to 3000mW+") See, if there is a way I can try out a new concept with the materials I already own, I'll generally default to that route for a proof of concept before I go making any unnecessary, time and money absorbing purchases. So I suppose ultimately the answer will be yes, yes sir I am! Too funny James!
Absolutely brilliant trouble shooting and analysis. I’ve not seen a modern PC based logic analyzer used before. I’m used to the big old 1980’s $6000 HP units 😁
Really tidy control cabinet. Nice work.
What a beautiful job!
As a long time GRBL fan I am impressed by the Acorn system. As a professional programmer I am impressed by the interface and those drag and drop modules, really slick.
I'd give my eye teeth to have your skills and knowledge so I could build my own CNC milling machine.
Beautiful job! Beyond professional.
I wish I'd had those heat shrink labels for my studios. In my day, we used clear heat shrink over a typed paper label, which often crinkled. Hey you kids! Get off my lawn.
Awesome work
A very nice control panel.
Amazing control box!!
amazing channel
Another great video!
Nice work!
I've been running this same setup on my avid 4x8, except I didn't get the expansion board. It has been rock solid and runs really well.
As working for a custom panel builder for 20 years ... I can say kudos, very thorough and tough thought. I`m presently working on research for my CNC build and also found that Acorn + Clearpath would be the way to go. Are you planing sharing the schematics of it all? Watch your videos for a little while, I know you have them :P Amazing work, can`t wait for part 2 on the CNC.
Awesome stuff 👏
Nice layout Clough, with good points on design considerations presented. You can further reduce interference by twisting the DC power lines coming from the PSUs and rerouting them between the large high current power supplies away from single ended signals (ie TTL, CMOS etc.). If that is unavoidable, the twisting helps reduce EMI. Crossing power and signals at right angles is best practice. The HT that comes back from relay coils and solenoids without snubbers can induce current into signal lines and affect WiFi signals. Diodes work fine as long as the breakdown voltage exceeds the reverse current (10 x Vcc) is a good start. All mains earth/grounds should go to one star point and ground one end of braided cables to avoid earth loops.
Great video. Thank you.
Good Job. Keep up the good work.
Nice work 👍🏻
O man finally a good control box vid! This always seems like the bit that other builds on youtube just go, yep heres the box, now lets plug it in and run the machine with no explanation whatsoever. And its the meat and potatoes of cnc!!
Thank you. I wonder sometimes if I'm being too detailed, but there seems to be a need out there for this kind of info.
Amazing build! Cheep source for electric boxes is estate / business sales. Just this morning I found like 5 in Melba on a pallet for 5 bucks. Boxes never wear out in my prior career I demoed out so many that were installed in the 50's factories that now I cringe thinking about the waste. Quick rattle can paint job and you would be hard pressed to tell the difference from a brand new one.
You do know that the Clearpath IPC-5 is 75 volts. You are saying, "72 volts." Love you videos, all of your projects are neat and clean. Very good job on all the descriptions. Thank you.
Oh, you're right. My mistake.
Great demo! You make in seem as easy as, uh, XYZ.
Terrible pun. I approve.
Another great video. I’ve got an Oak Board on the bench and the build is going great! ( not as good as yours though. Ha ha)I’m sure I’ll pick up plenty of tips from you as I always do! Cheers!
Thanks!
Nice work, understand why you wanted to separate power from signals, hopefully you will not have inductive interference from the power onto your signal wires.
this is gonna be one fancy router !
Great build. You always do a first class job on everything that you do. Would love to see a schematic and a bill of materials with total cost
You probably don't really want to know what it cost. :)
I noticed the hold-down vac option on your Acorn app - could be a nice feature in the future... Cool project sir.
Maybe. I have something different in mind.
You've got great aesthetic in your control box. Btw - these servos are so silent - I'd love to test them in a future project. Best wishes!
Great job on the panel! I've temporarily setup a Centroid All-in-One on a Hurco Km3p mill to test it out. It has been 3 years and I still have the temporary setup. You have motivated me to get the conversion cleaned up!
Does the Acorn attempt to stop the Clear Path motors when you hit E-stop or does it just disable them? Coasting at 570 IPM into the workpiece or a stop might be scary!
agreed...... 😀 - that was FUN
Shoot and here I thought I made a tidy control box for my CNC router. This is some next level stuff. Kicking myself for not knowing about that finger track back then, or DIN rails lol.
Impressive... Period!
Awesome build James! It's been 15 years since I built and designed electronic controls. Lots of changes. Makes me want to delve back in to learning about the new possibilities...
I wish I was 20 years younger so I could build equipment like this! I was stuck fixing old tube TVs and Radios.
@Claugh42 late to that one, but thanks a lot... this explained a couple of things I was currently researching, as I have to re-do my CNC's controller ....
Looking forward in tuning servo in dual axis.
Very neat build. Wish I had picked a bigger box. Ran out of space and had to compromise. Works perfect but not as neat as I had hoped for.
I LIKE THE HOWEVER phrase😅
For future builds you might consider in your control box swinging panels....sort of like doors. You can then mount more components in a small box and keep the components separate more easily.. And you have access to everything without having to remove anything to gain access. Just a FYI. I have done it on machines with limited space for the control box. Works great and makes life much easier. Please don't hate me for telling you this after you finished your control box! Great video. Very thorough in your explanations.
I assume you need a lot of depth for that to work?
@@Clough42 No, not really. You have enough in the box you are using on this build to make it work I think.
@@Clough42 The "doors" are oriented the same as your back pane is now. Put the not so deep components on the back door and the taller ones on the front door.
Very nice as always. I am always impressed with the amount of thought you put into planning and execution. Did I miss a chassis ground or was it integrated into one of the din rail components?
Looks like I missed it, but just like Waldo I think I found it.
There's a ground wire to the subpanel, just below the ground terminal blocks.
There probably isn't a need, but you can get shielded power cable to use for the 72V outputs inside the box.
sir great respect..!
Impressive! Sounds simple, but must have been hours and hours of research, planning, ordering,…. And building… well the last we have seen I the serie so far.
Yes. Many, many hours of research and planning.
Nice build. I am surprised there is so little shielded cabling.
A large Clough of expensive smoke? I'm in!
James, are your four servo motors and the brake planned for install on the PM-935? Or an entirely new machine? Watching your videos on this subject is fascinating, but scary on how much I don't comprehend. Thanks for your instructional videos!
ISO wire colors too!
I'd love to hear a comparison of Acorn and Mach3 and what you like and dislike and why. I currently have a small mill running on Mach3 and am pretty underwhelmed by it, (though I'm a bit spoiled running Fanuc and Brother controls at work) and would like to upgrade to something else in the future.
Yes. After you spend some time with the Acorn I would also like to hear your thoughts on the two.
Thank you for another great tutorials. The wiring diagram for the Acorn power shows CHRISSIE, COM and +24VDC terminals. It doesn’t show CHASSIS jumped to COM on the power supply. The ETH1616 shows EGND, 24GND and 24VDC with the EGND jumped to -V(24V COM) on the power supply. Is the CHASSIS internally jumped to COM on the Acorn board? You have the relay COM floating and they have it to earth ground. Should the Acorn COM be connected to earth ground?
It would be fantastic to have you do a comparison between Mach and Acorn/Centroid. I’m considering the same thing and there is little high quality discussion of the differences.
Because Mach is buggy. It is ok for a hobbyist but you will be finding workarounds. I used it for years 3 not 4 and loved it however it did need attention.
Really Nice work you panels look great. Do you have a link to the Acorn 3D Printed Mounts that you made
Love the content! Question though, what type of wire do you use that is flexible enough to run out to that front switch that activates the coil?
It's machine tool wire. I think the stuff I used is UL 1007.
Have you revealed what kind of CNC machine you are building?
You talked about tool release, so I'm guessing it's either another mill (?) or since you already have 2 and 500ipm is maybe a little overkill, a router with an atc spindle? Definitely exciting though!
Great walkthrough of the setup. I noticed that you have the Y and A paired and also rotating the same direction. Is the Y-axis direct screw drive or belt drive? would the A rotation need to be inverted for a belt drive, depending on how it's mounted?
As far as I understand 'A' is a second Y screw on the "other side along the X axis".
Very cool, love the setup. Is it feasible to distinguish which servo had a fault and just a matter of isolated IO's for each stepper? Or is that information aggregated along the way somewhere (Clearpath Connector Board?) and merely a single fault/nofault.
It's aggregated. If one servo faults, the whole system stops, all of the servos are disabled, and the spindle stops. At least that's the theory. :)
I see you have the silencer for the relief air on the air vale’s inside the electrical box. I would advice you to connect a hose and let the air out on the outside.
There can be some moist and oil coming from the compressor. It can make it really nasty inside the electrical box.
I follow this build with big interest. Keep up the nice work, greetings from Sweden.
There is no oil in my pneumatic system, but point taken.
That little Bee computer is pretty cute. I recently got a Lenovo m910q for a project.
So far it seems okay--not great. I'll probably regret not buying an Intel NUC.
@@Clough42 I wonder if the version with the Ryzen 4800 would be better.
My application is (barely) running on an OLD core2duo so the i5-6500t in the m910q is a LOT faster.