Suggest Acorn should be bundled with a DB25

[silver2row]

What is this talk about the updated Acorn and its no DB25 technology onboard?

Is this going to affect the older boards and the updates for utilizing the DB25 port on the Acorn (for older ones of course)?

Seth

[cnckeith]

What is this talk about the updated Acorn and its no DB25 technology onboard?

Is this going to affect the older boards and the updates for utilizing the DB25 port on the Acorn (for older ones of course)?

Seth

acorn with db25 will always be available.

we are thinking about creating a motion control board in between acorn and acornsix in size and features. this is just on paper for now as we are busy with Hickory EtherCat 2.0 and Fiber Laser development.

[ShawnM]

IMHO most problems could be solved by simply reading the manuals.

BINGO, reading the manuals would solve probably half the questions on this forum. It's amazing how many buy an Acorn and don't bother to read anything.

The Centroid documentation and schematics are BETTER than ANY other DIY controller out there.

[IPGregory]

BINGO, reading the manuals would solve probably half the questions on this forum. It's amazing how many buy an Acorn and don't bother to read anything.

The Centroid documentation and schematics are BETTER than ANY other DIY controller out there.

Yes and no. I read the manual when I got my first Acorn. Still didn't register to me that I needed a DB25 in the beginning. I Learned it from the forum. I see regular posts of many other people who seem to travel a similar road. So even though it clearly is in the manual, it's not always triggering the need to new users.

For myself as a hobby user with no prior CNC knowledge or experience at the time beyond a simple GRBL controller, I will say it was a lack of understanding of terminology. I do think the manual has been updated since then as Uwe's snip seems a lot clearer than I remember.

But we still see regular, 'You need a DB25' posts.

[ShawnM]

BINGO, reading the manuals would solve probably half the questions on this forum. It's amazing how many buy an Acorn and don't bother to read anything.

The Centroid documentation and schematics are BETTER than ANY other DIY controller out there.

Yes and no. I read the manual when I got my first Acorn. Still didn't register to me that I needed a DB25 in the beginning. I Learned it from the forum. I see regular posts of many other people who seem to travel a similar road. So even though it clearly is in the manual, it's not always triggering the need to new users.

For myself as a hobby user with no prior CNC knowledge or experience at the time beyond a simple GRBL controller, I will say it was a lack of understanding of terminology. I do think the manual has been updated since then as Uwe's snip seems a lot clearer than I remember.

But we still see regular, 'You need a DB25' posts.

I agree we still see this question and/or "my motors wont move" posts and they will continue to come up but not only is this question answered in black and white in the manual there's even a PICTURE that shows where stepper drives connect and where servo drives connect. Hell, they even put a link to where you can purchase the DB25 if you have stepper drives. Again, not sure they could make this any more simple.

But I have to disagree with your "yes and no" answer. Many new users are just "skimming" the manual and are itching and more focused on just seeing things move and don't want to be bothered with actually reading the manual and understanding it. I get it, I was too. But the answers are there if people would just take the time to read the documentation they were provided with their product. Especially if you are NEW to CNC.

[IPGregory]

BINGO, reading the manuals would solve probably half the questions on this forum. It's amazing how many buy an Acorn and don't bother to read anything.

I agree we still see this question and/or "my motors wont move" posts and they will continue to come up but not only is this question answered in black and white in the manual there's even a PICTURE that shows where stepper drives connect and where servo drives connect. Hell, they even put a link to where you can purchase the DB25 if you have stepper drives. Again, not sure they could make this any more simple.
people would just take the time to read the documentation they were provided with their product. Especially if you are NEW to CNC.

But I have to disagree with your "yes and no" answer. Many new users are just "skimming" the manual and are itching and more focused on just seeing things move and don't want to be bothered with actually reading the manual and understanding it. I get it, I was too. But the answers are there if people would just take the time to read the documentation they were provided with their product. Especially if you are NEW to CNC.

You're making my point...

New users, may or may not read the manual. New users, may or may not 'understand' the manual, or at least parts of it.

The disconnect here I think is audience. If you sell a Hickory, or an Oak or similar, you assume a particular (probably experienced) audience. Acorn seems to be catering to a slightly different market (maybe new or inexperienced) to some degree. Since its apparent that the manual alone is not fulfilling its purpose, I go back to my point about should there be additional documentation in the form of something like a 'quick start guide' for want of a better word. We see manufacturers doing it all the time nowadays. Even a single printed page included in the box with something like 'STOP, what type of drive are you planning to use, etc., etc.?'.

If as Keith says, the Acorn is being replaced and the new one won't have a DB25, this is all moot. If not, then the current docs approach 'aint workin' for at least some of the people who are choosing to buy Acorns..

Blaming the user (even if they are at fault), is often not the best answer.

[IPGregory]

As to why did I bring this up? Besides the multiple posts here in this forum, I have run into new or prospective Acorn users on another discord I frequent and had to have the same DBwhatnow conversation over there. They don't all end up here where we can help them.

[cnckeith]

i was just updating the Acorn Start Here sheet so i added a DB25 vs. screw terminals inforgraphic on the last page.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... t_here.pdf

also the use of the DB25 is promentatinly shown on the web page system infographic for Acorn and in the installation manual and schematics for drives that require the 5 vdc.

page 1
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... roller.pdf

page 34
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... manual.pdf

any Centroid curated drive that runs best on the DB25 is shown in the schematics connected to the DB25.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... term=acorn

and lastly a suggestion on where to buy a db25 BOB.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html

don't know how much more i can do on this subject?

[cnckeith]

[IPGregory]

Thanks Kieth.

If that's the sheet that comes in the box, then I think that's about all that can be done.