Wiring Clearpath Servo to Acorn Control Board

[@janvirbrar4181]

Did you have to use 100oh + resistors for the clearpath signal wires? I see that on the acorn's schematic

[@AMHKnives]

I did not, when I wired up this system it was still in beta form and did not have a schematic with resistors.

[@Squeezmo]

I like the lathe.... I have the 6" change gear from the 1950s...

[@AMHKnives]

Nice, got to love the old machines. Thanks bud.

[@kurtkenyon9904]

I this system with Clearpath servos and the Acorn board considered closed loop?

[@AMHKnives]

Kurt Kenyon yes and no, the clearpath servos are closed loop themselfs and if they miss pulses they will falult out stopping the acorn board. The board only sees the fault and not actual pulses.

[@RussianBearTu95]

Hmm, you say in the video you hooked HLFB red wire (negative) to +24V on a rail and then connected motors in series ending with green wire from HLFB+ going into In5 on Acorn.... now that doesn't sound right, since In5 will also have +24V when opened. I have connected mine with red wire hooked to the COM and it works

[@AMHKnives]

I would not go by my wiring on that board, the video is a few years old and it was a first rev/ beta board. I recommend using a new wiring diagram from centroid for connecting to the acorn.

[@RussianBearTu95]

@@AMHKnives trust me, it's worse, otherwise i wouldn't be trying to figure it out by videos

[@dazisgud]

Where did you get the servos from? And how much if you don't mind saying.

[@AMHKnives]

dazisgud they are teknic clearpath servos i ordered them directly from teknic, i think they were 600 each, they are there top of the line hp model.

[@ikecobey6268]

Nice video is there port for error signal that comes from closeloop stepper motor

[@AMHKnives]

Ike Cobey yes there is, if for any reason the servo has a problem it stops the machine.

[@ikecobey6268]

Alan Hollerbach thanks, also if I have done on 3rd party cam the gcode can I load this on software?

[@AMHKnives]

Ike Cobey as long as the post processor matches yes if not you may have to tweek it to match.

[@ikecobey6268]

Alan Hollerbach thanks, also this controller have only 4axis it's possible that I can expand the axis like make it 5axis like controid oak controller

[@AMHKnives]

Ike Cobey not with the acorn at this time bud.

[@JAMESHOPKINSIBXCNC]

I am running the ClearPath servos on my machine and am interested in the Acorn. With Centroid, having your encoders set at 6400 what are your speeds, ipm. Thanks for your informational videos.

[@AMHKnives]

James Hopkins im running the clearpath sdhp servos, i would have to look up the specs but with the screws im running now 400ipm is the max, the nsk screws i will be switching to can max out at 800ipm

[@JAMESHOPKINSIBXCNC]

I am running the sdsk series and have 2005 series ballscrews, double nutted. I am currently running Mach3 and can only accomplish 200 ipm with encoders set at 800 res. I tried the higher res and could only get 150 ipm. I was just curious as I am looking for better options for controlling the machine. It is getting harder and harder to find the favorable cpu for mach.

[@AMHKnives]

The higher res you go on the clearpath servos the slower their max speed is. Im running cpm-sdhp-2331s-eln servos and 1605 ballscrews. if you want higher speeds you will need a faster twist ballscrew but intern changing ballscrews to faster will sacrifice accuracy.

[@JAMESHOPKINSIBXCNC]

Does the software use the encoder feedback for positioning even tho it is step and direction? just trying to learn how the encoder is used .

[@AMHKnives]

no feedback to the software with the acorn board, the clearpath servos use the encoders for pulses input and movement. Easy way to describe it is the board sends 10 pulses the servo moves 10 pulses if the servo only moves 8 pulses there is a problem and it will stop. servos are smoother and have way more power than steppers and with the added encoder and auto tuning of the servos give you a great setup for a mill.

[@SuperYellowsubmarin]

Hey, any idea why the Acorn step, dir and enable are wired to NEGATIVE inputs on the Clearpath ? It just feels weird doing this without an explanation. The Acorn spec sheet does specify that those outputs are positive, where am I wrong ?

[@AMHKnives]

If you look at rev 4 all of your positive enable. Step and direction positive connections are direct to your 24vdc from the transformer and your negitives are enable step and direction through the board, i believe it is done like that for easyer power tranfer through the board. Basically its easyer to control with smaller components and less power directly through the board.

[@SuperYellowsubmarin]

@@AMHKnives Right, just wired as instructed on the rev 4 drawings. Good that they provide them in such an accurate manner depending on which equipment you are using. Thanks for the answer.

[@beachboardfan9544]

Doesnt clearpath run their own controllers?

[@AMHKnives]

Nope, the 2 black boxes under the acorn board are just powersupplys for the clearpaths. They need a controller like the acorn to tell them step and direction.

[@beachboardfan9544]

Interesting, appreciate it! 👍

[@ronedmeades1406]

Hey Alan, what clearpath servo did you buy exactly, the model number, please? Thanks.

[@AMHKnives]

ron edmeades im running, CPM-SDHP-2331S-ELN clearpaths.

[@mannycalavera9181]

Thanks for the vid helped me out alot

[@AMHKnives]

Glad to help, wiring can be a scary task.

[@watahyahknow]

do you wire and set up closed loop steppers the same way ? (bought leadshine closed loop steppers with drivers) its actually the one thing that still devides me between the achorn board compared to a uccnc ub1 breakoutboard setup at this moment

[@AMHKnives]

watahyahknow if you go in centroids website under the acorn board tab there is a zip download of wiring schematics and there is a leadshine schematic in the file.

[@electricpictures100]

Thanks for the video. When you say inputs from the clear path, surely you mean outputs. step & direction to clearpath

[@AMHKnives]

Paul H there are both inputs and outputs for the clearpath servos.

[@seimela]

can i use centroid boards for cnc plasma and oxy-fuels

[@AMHKnives]

I believe it is possible, there is a thread on the centroid form discussing using it for plasma.

[@toddsutton5672]

EEEE gads a wankel in the backround. lol