This is a legacy page, to view up-to-date information and pricing please visit the Acorn Plasma Page on ShopCentroidCNC.com

Acorn Plasma CNC control kits are both a CNC Hardware and CNC Software DIY system designed to work together for easy CNC setup and operation with minimal fuss.

A reliable, high performance, industrial quality Plasma CNC controller with a real time closed loop Torch Height Control at a do-it-yourself price. Acorn utilizes an integrated 1Ghz ARM Cortex A8 Motion Control CPU and communicates with CNCPC via a fast and reliable Ethernet connection. The Acorn CNC control board controls a wide variety of axis motors and drives with industry standard step and direction command signal. Compatible with AC brushless servo motor drive packages such as: Clearpath, Delta, Estun, Yaskawa, and many others as well as Stepper motor drives such as the popular Gecko and Leadshine stepper drives and many others. The Acorn CNC controller runs on Centroid's proven industrial quality CNC control software.

Centroid announces that our Plasma THC is now compatible with the PrimeWeld Cut 60 and the Everlast 'i' and 's' series CNC plasma cutters! Centroid is now offering a plasma CNC and THC kit for the Cut 60 and the Everlast units. Available now for purchase below.

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The Acorn CNC system has been engineered, built, and tested at our Centroid facility in the USA. All units ship ready to run after thorough testing and quality control.

Centroid Acorn Plasma Feature Highlights

Closed Loop THC: Real time closed loop operation between the Arc Voltage and the Torch Height. Fiber Optic Isolation. PID THC control

Restart Mode: Restart any where along the contour of the part. Backup and/or move forward along the part contour. Restart anywhere. Simple Jog off anywhere along part contour to restart with a lead in. Fast and easy.

Torch Check: Change or Check consumables in middle of the job and restart anywhere.

Dry Run: Run the part program without the Torch and THC on.

Smart Sense: Auto Senses Target voltage during beginning of cut and then maintains the measured TV throughout the rest of the cut.

Material Profile Manager: A tested library of plasma settings for common materials and thickness. Choose the Material and Cut. Edit any profile, Create your own profiles. Copy profiles to any other Acorn Plasma equipped machine. Use same part program with any thickness material no need to repost part program from CAD/CAM to cut another thickness metal.

Advanced THC Anti Dive controls: Fine adjustment controls over how the THC behaves. Tested default settings provided but are editable by the user if necessary to fine tune the machine.

Plasma Smoothing: A Centroid exclusive this Plasma Cutting feature produces better cuts with less dross.

User editable Operator Control Panel: This feature allows Users, Rebuilders and OEM's alike a straight forward way to change the look, feel and function of the Virtual Control Panel.

Feedrate and Target Voltage Override controls: On the fly override of both Target Voltage and Feedrate via the VCP and/or the Wireless MPG knob.

Wireless MPG operator control: High performance wireless control pendant with large MPG Wheel for positioning the torch, setting zeros, overriding Feedrate and Target Voltage also has 4 programmable buttons for individualized operator convenience setup controls. Centroid Firmware sets this unit above the rest. Brings a nice work flow improvement to the machine operator with this handy reliable tool.

Auto Torch Touch Off: Compatible with Conductive, Ohmic, Round Mounts and Floating Heads. Conductive/Ohmic can be used in conjunction Float Head/Switch and/or Breakaway Head/Switches. Easy drag and drop for Float Head and Breakaway setup menus in the Acorn Plasma setup Wizard, Auto Float Head offset distance compensation.

Built in Conversational Programming: Program plasma parts with or without a CAD drawing with Centroid's Intercon Plasma. Lines, Arcs, Squares, Circles, Rectangles, Kerf offset, Auto lead in/out, auto connect radius, Mirror, Rotate, Repeat, Teach Mode, DXF in, DXF out, now available in beta and included with the Plasma CNC12 installation.

Teach Mode with or without a Laser. Teach the torch where you want it to cut. Easily trace lines and arcs using the machine. Trace once cut as many times a you like. Cut file is stored for later use and is editable to easily change dimenstions.

Made in USA: The Acorn Plasma system was engineered, built, and tested at our Centroid facility in the USA. Robust design, Rigorous testing = Years of trouble free operation. CNC Software and Hardware designed to work together. All units ship ready to run after thorough quality control and testing.

Compatible with Hypertherm PowerMax/SYNC, PrimeWeld Cut60, Everlast CNC i & s series, Lincoln Flex Cut series

Acorn Plasma FAQ's

1.) Can I use a non Hypertherm Powermax Plasma cutter with the Centroid THC?
        Answer: Yes. Currently the Acorn THC supports Hypertherm Powermax Plasma units, and Lincoln Flex Cut, PrimeWeld Cut 60 and Everlast CNC i series units.. We will add other manufactures plasma units to a compatibility list in the future. For now, Acorn Plasma THC is supported with a Hypertherm Powermax XP and SYNC Plasma or Lincoln Flex Cut cutters, Everylast i series , the Prime Weld Cut 60 with the Centroid Prime Weld Cable!

2.) Can I use a non THC supported Plasma cutters with the Centroid Acorn Plasma Software?
        Answer: Yes. For applications that do not require a THC but want to take advantage of the Plasma CNC software. (Note: In the future Oxy/Flame specific features will be added as well.)

3.) Does the Centroid THC work with other CNC controllers?
        Answer: No. The Centroid THC is designed to work with the Acorn CNC Controller using the Acorn's high speed serial port for real time Torch Voltage Feedback.

4.) Can I use the Acorn Plasma CNC12 software to cut parts without the THC kit installed?
        Answer: Yes.

5.) Can I use a 3rd party Ohmic Sensor/Isolator?
        Answer: Yes

6.) Can I use a Round Mount?
        Answer: Yes, Round Mounts perform two duties, The Float Head Torch Touch off sensor and a Breakaway/Collision Sensor.

7.) Can I use a Floating Head?
        Answer: Yes, Floating Heads and switches are supported.

8.) Can I use a Magnetic Breakaway Head?
        Answer: Yes, We recommend Magnetic Breakaway Torch Mounts (and they can be used in conjunction with a Floating Head (slide)).

9.) Can I use a Floating Head in combination with Ohmic/conductive Torch Tip?
        Answer: Yes

10.) Can I use a Floating Head that has Breakaway switch built into it?
        Answer: Yes

11.) Does the Centroid THC work with the Oak and Allin1DC CNC Controllers?
        Answer: No. Not at this time.

12.) Do I have to Home the machine to use it?
        Answer: No. Setting up and using Auto Homing is recommended but not necessary to use the machine.

13.) How do I create part programs?
        Answer: Centroid Intercon Plasma conversational software (now in beta) and most any CAD/CAM system designed for Plasma use can generate Centroid Plasma G code. We are using SheetCam for our in house jobs. Here is a link to download the Centroid Acorn SheetCam Post processor that we are using.

14.) Can I use a Laser dot or cross hair to set a start point?
        Answer: Yes

15.) Can I use a scribe to mark the material instead of cutting it?
        Answer: This feature will be added after our initial public beta release and will be a free software upgrade

16.) Can I run the part program without the Torch running?
        Answer: Yes. select the "Dry Run" button to run the job with the Torch Off.

17.) Can I use a 3rd party THC (non Centroid) with Acorn?
        Answer: No. We do not support other manufactures THC's.

18.) Where can i get help and tech support?
        Answer: Free online Plasma Tech Support Forum. Centroid owns this forum, maintains, monitors and contributes to it daily. Here is the link.

19.) Is the software license file a subscription?
        Answer: No. A Plasma Pro software license is tied to the Acorn board itself and is a one time purchase.

20.) Can I install my Acorn CNC12 Plasma Pro License on another PC?
        Answer: Yes. A Plasma Pro software license is tied to the Acorn board itself NOT the PC. This allows for easy DIY upgrade or replacement of the PC without having to get a new license file.

21.) Can I use my old laptop to run the Acorn Plasma CNC controller?
        Answer: Laptops are not recommended. The CNC PC must meet or exceed the minimum CNC PC requirements for CNC12, most important is the CPU core speed rating for one core, this is called the 'single core benchmark' see this page for more information on the PC requirements for the Acorn CNC system.

Acorn CNC control kit un boxing video

Acorn "Start Here" Web Page with requirements and How-to Videos.
Acorn CNC controller Hookup Schematics (type in "Plasma" in the search bar on this page to see all Acorn Plasma hookup schematics)
Acorn CNC Plasma Installation and Operation Manual
Acorn Hardware and Software Installation manual.
All Acorn Documentation  (a list of All Acorn related documentation)
Plasma CNC12 software download. (Note: CNC12 installation instructions are in the Acorn Installation Manual
Plasma Intercon Download latest version here. (updated weekly!!)
Centroid CNC control board Solid Models
Centroid CNC Community Plasma Tech Support Forum (Free Tech Support!)
Acorn CNC controller buyers FAQ

Centroid Acorn Plasma CNC Software Levels

Features	Acorn Plasma Free v5.04+	Acorn Plasma Pro v5.04+	Acorn Plasma Ultimate v5.04+
Cost	Free = Limited G code program size.	Plasma Pro	Plasma Ultimate
Auto Conductive/Ohmic Torch Touch Off	Included	Included	Included
Auto Float Head Torch Touch Off	Included	Included	Included
Breakaway/Collision Switch Torch Protection	Included	Included	Included
Real Time Closed Loop Torch Height	Included	Included	Included
Laser Zero Position Set	Included	Included	Included
Material Profile Manager	Included	Included	Included
Feedrate Override	Included	Included	Included
Target Voltage Override	Included	Included	Included
Restart Mode	Included	Included	Included
Torch Check	Included	Included	Included
Dry Run	Included	Included	Included
Plasma Smoothing	Included	Included	Included
Target Voltage Smart Sense	Included	Included	Included
Edit or Create new Material Profiles	Included	Included	Included
Real Time Voltage Display	Included	Included	Included
Auto and Manual Homing	Included	Included	Included
Wireless MPG Pendant support	Not included	Included	Included
G-code program size	Limited to 50Kb G-code file size	Unlimited G-code file size	Unlimited G-code file size
Work Coordinates Systems (WCS)	One (G54)	Eighteen (G54-G59 plus extended WCS) starting with v5.08	Eighteen (G54-G59 plus extended WCS)
Auto Torch Touch Off	Included	Included	Included
Coordinate System Rotation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto find CSR with Probe	No	Yes	Yes
Manual find CSR with Probe or Wiggler	Yes	Yes	Yes
Manual enter angle for CSR	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sub Programs and Macros (M98 & G65) Write your own custom macros, many uses	Included	Included	Included
Backlash Compensation	Included	Included	Included
Screw compensation (laser or manual!)	Included	Included	Included
Any axis can be Linear or Rotary	Included	Included	Included
G-code backplot graphics	Included	Included	Included
Run Time Program Graphics	Included	Included	Included
User Configurable Touch Screen Virtual Control Panel	Included	Included	Included
Backlash compensation	Included	Included	Included
CNC Configuration Wizard	Included	Included	Included
Operate in Millimeter or Inches	Yes	Yes	Yes
XY Diagonal Jogging	Yes	Yes	Yes
4th axis Jogging	Yes	Yes	Yes
Software Axis Pairing (pair 4th axis any other axis in software)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto Squaring of Software Paired axis with auto homing	No	Yes	Yes
Hardware Axis Pairing	Yes	Yes	Yes
4th axis G-code moves: 4&1,4&2,4&3,4&1&2,4&2&3,4&1&3&4, 4&1&2&3	No, "Free" is limited to 3 axis simultaneous moves with single axis 4th axis moves.	Yes, 4 axis simultaneous movement with full interpolation. (move any axis in combination with any others)	Yes, 4 axis simultaneous movement with full interpolation. (move any axis in combination with any others)
CNC Setup Wizard with auto PLC program generation	Included	Included	Included
PLC Detective Software	Included	Included	Included
Use one input for all axis Homing	Included	Included	Included
Contour ShuttleXpress Support	Included	Included	Included
Xkeys, Xbox and other USB keyboard emulator support	Included	Included	Included
Laser Engraving	Yes	Yes	Yes
PWM output for Laser power	Yes	Yes	Yes
PWM output for Spindle speed control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Laser power Velocity modulation	Yes	Yes	Yes
0-5 VDC or 0-10 VDC analog output	Yes	Yes	Yes
Plasma Intercon Conversational programming (Currently in Beta)	Limited to 20 blocks of conversational	Unlimited	Unlimited
Offline Version of Plasma Intercon Conversational programming	No	No	Yes
Intercon "Teach" Mode (Currently in Beta)	Limited to 20 blocks of Intercon	Unlimited	Unlimited

Use your own PC OR purchase a Centroid CNCPC

Planning to build or use your own PC as a CNCPC? Be sure the PC meets the Centroid CNCPC minimum requirements found here.
Centroid CNC software runs on a Windows 10/11 PC that meets the requirements. Laptops are not recommended. Tablets are not compatible.
The minimum CPU performance benchmark is critical for good Plasma Performance. Mobile processors are not compatible.
- If you plan to build your own CNCPC follow the CNCPC requirements here.
- If you plan to buy your own PC we recommend the Intel NUC (be sure to purchase a NUC that meets the Centroid minimum pc requirements) and a 1920x1080 monitor

Replacement Parts

Centroid Acorn CNC controller reviews

All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice