Centroid Acorn software update 4.12 - and refrigging the parameters

Software update 4.12:

Finally, Centroid released the long awaited update to 4.12 (from 4.10). This implements a few features and fixes:

• Wireless USB (I already have one waiting).
• Probing functions that actually work with the paid-for "digitising" option. They forgot to enable it in release 4.10(!).
• Rigid tapping (I had to disable it to get the "digitising" features working in the beta 4.11. So I had it working but was unable to use it).
• And a host of fairly minor changes.

In "detail", this is what was declared:

Acorn CNC12 v4.12 release notes
1.) Wireless MPG support for Centroid XHC model CWP-4.
2.) Contour ShuttleXpress support.
3.) added “Limit All” and “Home All” functionality to Wizard (use one input for all home switches and another for all limit switches, OR use just one input for both all home and all limit switches, saves inputs)
4.) added Wizard “control peripherals” tab added and those related items have been moved out of the spindle tab into the accessories tab.
5.) Default step frequency for AC drive types now defaults to 400 kHz
6.) Automatic Tool measurement in Mill and Lathe Pro now activated for all tool numbers
7.) Extended WCS (7-18) activated in Lathe Pro for a total of 18 WCS positions
8.) Rigid Tapping selection in wizard automatically sets all Rigid Tapping parameters to match the Tech Bulletin
#304 (Acorn - Rigid Tapping Setup for Mill and Lathe), and allows users to edit those values in the Wizard
9.) Added Tool Touch off auto configuration to Mill Wizard
10.) Changed default steps/rev in “bench test” from 200 to 1600
11.) When importing a license file, an error message is displayed if the serial number extracted from the license file does not match the system serial number.
13.) Support for the new Centroid CWP-4 wireless pendant is included with Mill Pro or Lathe Pro CNC12 License (or Mill Dig bundle) a Pro license is required for use with the new wireless MPG. (Note: Wireless MPG pendant support is not included in the Free version of CNC12, however Contour ShuttleXpress support IS included in the Free version of CNC12)
14.) Changed VCP to always clear Rest Bit and Set ResetOk on shutdown
15.) Added to the Wizard the ability to control the default VCP jog mode on start up of CNC12.
16.) Refreshed and Updated Acorn_rev3 schematic set found here.
16.) Misc:
- Wizard UI improvements/changes
- Wizard now starts in top left of screen to insure user can move/re-size window
- Wizard “force on top of desktop” has been removed.
- Changed Acorn power off and reset message to "Please power cycle Acorn and then restart CNC12, Press any key to exit".
- Added aux10, 11, and 12 LED's to VCP
- Mill/Lathe Pro License rigid tapping bug fixed
- CNC12 can only be installed on the CNCPC C:\ drive, selection for other locations has been removed.
- Reordered Max, Fast and Slow Jog rates in the Wizard for better flow.
- fixed worklight bug not being mapped to aux key
- added notes to Acorn specific CNC12 parameters in the CNC12 configuration menu
- Wizard: Added Keyboard navigation by tab and enter. Textboxes will now highlight on click also.
- Wizard: Improved error message handling for max/fast/slow rates in relation to the wireless mpg.
- Wizard: Fixed max rate/fast jog value check error message bug.

List of changes on the forum.

Operation of TT and Probe:

Obviously I was expecting my TT and probe changes to have become invalidated and sure enough I was right. They'd made some changes to the config wizard with a view to setting up tool touch (TT) setting. But they have never managed to convince themselves there was a problem trying to run both a TT and a Renishaw-type probe, so why would they bother testing them out, least of all get them running? And sure enough, it's clear that they didn't.

Took me about an hour to sus out the parameter changes. Basically they'd inverted 2 of the parameters for some inexplicable reason. The "software release notes" are nothing of the sort and simply summarise some of the changes without going into any details. I suppose you might argue that some of the details may be commercially sensitive but even so....

Parameter and input settings required for operation with 4.12:

Here's my summary, as posted on the forum.

There have been some changes to the setup required to run TT and probe simultaneously under the 4.12 update. Took me an hour or so of experimentation to find the correct parameter settings, as the "release notes" don't actually tell you what has changed, only that there have been some changes (grrr!). Bottom line - here's the setup that seems to work with 4.12 on my machine:

Inputs and settings:
* Renishaw probe trigger goes to input 4. Described as "Unused" and "NC" in the wizard. It's normally closed, so contact opens the switch and the input is pulled up to 24V.
* Renishaw probe detect goes to input 6. Described as "ProbeDetect" and "NC" in the wizard. It's a simple loop to ground inside the plug.
* TT trigger signal goes to input 7. Described as "ProbeTripped" and "NO" in the wizard. My probe is also a normally closed electrical switch, so contact with the tool lets the input signal go up to 24V.

Parameter settings:
* # 11 is "-4" (TT to input 4, the sign indicates the type of input, NC or NO)
* # 12 is "10" (the tool number of the Renishaw probe in the library)
* # 17 is "3" on my machine (represents "G30 P3" command). The P3 coords are stored in the WCS table / return table. The coordinates define the position of my (fixed) TT. It rapids there before doing tool measurement with the TT.
* # 18 IS NOW "-6" (changed in 4.12). The input that is checked to see if a probe is connected. If so, the spindle is inhibited.) NB: You should also set #257.
* # 257 is "+6". Yes, NOW POSITIVE six (changed in 4.12). "Tool touchoff detect". Parameter #18 requires this test for the Renishaw probe but you have to fool it for the TT probe.
* #43 is 2 ("use #44 defined input for TT")
* #44 is 7 (TT input channel number)

This gives me auto tool length measurement (using my Chinese TT) AND plug in Renishaw probe (with "missing probe" detection) working.

Glad to say it's all working. 

• My TT is hard wired. This was the only way to get it to co-exist with the Renishaw probe.
• The Renishaw probe tool plugs in when required (handy, given that it's on an ISO40 holder). 
• The "probe detect" feature prevents attempting to probe with the Renishaw probe without the it actually plugged in.
• NB: Running the wizard again at this point would overwrite these settings - DON'T DO IT!! They have to be manually set by going in through the main menu (Settings > Config > Parameters etc).