Why would you want to retrofit?

Be it an old machine that has outstanding tolerance and repeatability or a side project being started in the garage, a Centroid control retrofit can be a cost-effective and user-friendly method of getting a potentially scrap machine back to life.

Some controls out there just don’t make sense to learn from the ground up anymore and that’s where an option like this retrofit can step in and bring a little sunshine to an otherwise rainy day. Thanks to constant improvements, user feedback, and sometimes, more options than the original control had, the Centroid team developing this control has and is on constant patrol with ways to improve the end user's experience.

Benefits of Centroid

The Centroid control offers a wide range of features, many of which are not even standard with a lot of the current control units out there. A few of these include 2D/3D digitizing parts using a probe sensor, easy DXF importing to convert a CAD drawing into a makeable part, and automatic tool height measuring. Centroid’s Intercon conversational programming can be performed entirely from a workspace away from the machine, giving the option of programming from an office area while the machine runs the parts unmanned in a separate area of the building. Easily accessible USB, LAN, and storage from a built-in hard drive help make the transition from an outdated control almost seamless.

Some of the more popular CAD/CAM programs below have been verified to work well with this retrofit option

Mastercam	Esprit	Topsolid
HSMWorks	Camworks	BobCAD/CAM
Powermill	OneCNC	SprutCAM
FeatureCAM	Alphacam	Vectric
SolidCAMG	Edgecam	VisualMill
Gibbscam	Catia	TurboCAD/CAM
NX	Hypermill	CamBam
MadCam	ProE	Millwrite

 

Current Known Options

Retrofitting a control is not one of those “One size fits all” situations, so there will be some limitation on which machines you can use a Centroid control retrofit with. Even with this small hurdle, there is still a wide range of different types of machines and manufacturers whose control can be retrofit using this option. These include, but aren’t limited to, nearly all Bridgeport machines, many, if not all, router table class="table" setups, Mori Seiki SL series machines, Mazak quick-turns, Hardinge HNC and CHNC, HAAS VF series, and even FANUC control on machines utilizing black cap, yellow cap, or the first three generations of the red cap servo motors.

For any additional information, or if this type of option sounds like something that could work well for your current situation, feel free to contact us here over at Precision Zone. We can help work together to determine if a control retrofit would be a viable and cost-effective method of restoring the machine back up to running as intended.