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TB309 Rev7 Centroid CNC12 Windows 10/11 Configuration
Note If you are using a PC purchased from Centroid the PC is ready to run the configuration steps in this
document have already been performed by Centroid
Centroid has created a free app to perform most of the Windows configuration work of setting up a CNC PC for you See
a video showing the PC Tuner in action here https //youtu be/bOZVMMdzOj8?si=atqJmVoSNUdriMSt
Step 1 Download and run the Centroid PC Tuner App
a Download the Centroid CNC PC Tuner from the Centroid CNC downloads page
Note The PC Tuner App is included with CNC12 installer package starting with CNC12 Version 5 08
b Unzip the downloaded file and run the setup executable
c Once setup is complete click “ Yes ” to run the PC Tuner
d After the PC Tuner opens click the button “ Click to Run All Windows Setups and PC Checks ”
e Once the PC Tuner has finished running and your PC has passed Hardware Performance Requirements you
can close the PC Tuner and continue to Step 2 and then Step 3 There are two configuration settings that have to
be done manually!
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Note If the PC Tuner shows red ‘X’s next to the Notepad++ checks then its likely that Notepad++ was not found
You can download find the latest version of software from the Notepad++ website here https //notepad plus
plus org/downloads/
There are two house cleaning duties that the Centroid PC Tuner App can not perform for you These
last two steps must be completed to proper configure a PC for CNC use
Step 2 Tun off Windows Notifications
a Use the “ Search ” function in Windows 10/11 to find “ Control Panel ” and open it
b Select “ System and Security ”
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c Select “ Security and Maintenance ”
d Select “ Change Security and Maintenance settings ”
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e The following page will allow you to turn off all messages Deselect all items and click “ OK ” This will
prevent Windows 10/11 from showing a popup message that might interfere with CNC12
f After clicking “ OK ” you will return to the previous page Select “ Change User Account Control settings ” A
new Dialog will appear called “ Choose when to be notified about changes to your computer ” Move the slider
to the bottom for “ Never notify ” and click “ OK ”
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Step 3 Turn Off Energy Efficient Ethernet
a In the Windows Search bar search for “ Device Manager ” and click on the Device Manager result
Navigate to “ Network Adapters ” Right click on the Network Adapter you are using to communicate with
the Centroid Control and click on “ Properties ” Navigate to the “ Advanced ” tab and select “ Energy
Efficient Ethernet ” Set the Value to “ Off ” or “ Disabled ” and click “ OK ” If your Network Adapter does not
have an option for Energy Efficient Ethernet please follow b instead
b Instead of going to the “Advanced” proceed to the “ Power Management ” tab Uncheck “ Allow the computer
to turn off this device to save power ” Click “ OK” Now the PC is ready for CNC use
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Centroid CNC PC requirements
We suggest using an Intel NUC model #NUC10i3FNK / NUC10i3FNH or newer and a Touch Screen LCD display
with 16 9 aspect ratio when using the VCP 1920x1080 is recommended for us e with the Virtual Control Panel VCP
is a perfect fit at this size You can purchase an Intel NUC or Allin1PC from Centroid with all the CNC software
pre loaded with base Mill and Lathe CNC configurations ready to run here
But if you want to build buy or use your own CNC PC here are the Centroid Primary CNC PC requirements
1 The multi core PC CPU must have at least a SINGLE CORE any one core of the multi cores
minimum benchmark of 1500 You can look up a CPU’s benchmark # using this web site AVOID all Atom
"Mobile" processors or equivalents Don't mistake the Multi Core Bench mark for the Single Core benchmark of
a given CPU Use the link below for proper single core rating
http //cpubenchmark net/singleThread html
2 An SSD solid state drive We only recommend Intel or Samsung SSD’s Do not use mechanical hard
drives
3 At minimum 4 Gig’s of Ram more is better
4 Windows 10 or 11 that is configured for CNC control use the rest of this TB will detail how
5 an Ethernet port not a USB to Ethernet adapter!
6 When using Centroid's Virtual Control Panel VCP a 1920x1080 LCD monitor 1920x1080 HD is preferred
other sizes with a 16 9 aspect ratio will work but screens may be shrunk to fit Square 4 3 monitors will not
work
7 Windows 10/11 should be set on USA English numbering system and region should be USA so number
formats periods in stead of commas are correct for CNC12 and you will need a USA keyboard
8 UPDATE Windows to the latest Microsoft Net Framework Many features of the CNC software use the Net
framework tools Run Windows update to get the latest Net framework
A discussion of affordable PC's that meet the requirements on the Centroid Tech Support Forum
http //centroidcncforum com/viewtopic php?f=20&t=2794
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If you can’t or don’t want to use the Centroid CNC PC Tuner App below are the Instructions for
Configuring Windows 10/11 manually
You do not need to perform these steps below if you use the Centroid PC Tuner App
These instruction are is applicable to any Windows 10 or 11 PC that meets the Centroid minimum
performance requirements for use with Acorn AcornSix Hickory ALLin1DC OAK and MPU11 This
manual setup method is based on the following videos https //www youtube com/watch?v=7ExYAjItzC0
and https //www youtube com/watch?v=Akmw8ak_TlM
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1 Click “Start” Windows Icon Select “Settings” as depicted by the gear icon
2 This will open Windows settings Click “Windows Update”
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3 Select “ Download now ” Windows update will now start From this screen verify that your computer is up to date
by clicking “Check for updates” Download and install any updates that Windows Update recommends This
process might take a few hours if this is a new system Allow Windows Update to run periodically checking it and
allowing it to restart until Windows 10/11 is fully updated You can continue on with the setup steps while
Windows is updating
4 While in Settings navigate to “ System ” and select “ Focus Assist ”
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5 Select “ Alarms only ”
6 Click “Start” Windows Icon Type in Control Panel Navigate to Programs > Programs and
Features ” From here you can uninstall any unnecessary programs that run in the background and might
cause disruption while using CNC12 Many pre built computers come with factory loaded software that
can be disruptive Centroid also recommends uninstalling any antivirus software Antivirus software does
not always recognize CNC12 and may prevent CNC12 from running or communicating with the control If
you have trouble with CNC12 starting communicating or shutting off verify that antivirus software is not
interfering with the software Example of what to uninstall Anything with McAfee usually McAfee
LiveSafe and WebAdvisor by McAfee WildTangent Games Microsoft 365 Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneDrive
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Note For McAfee LiveSafe Select “McAfee LiveSafe” and “Remove all files for this program ” You will have to restart
the PC after uninstalling McAfee Live Safe
7 Use the “ Search ” function in Windows 10/11 to find “ Control Panel ” and open it
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8 Select “User Accounts”
9 Select “User Accounts” again
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10 Verify that your user account is listed as Administrator If you need to change this select “Change your
account type”
11 When you select “Change your account type” the following menu will appear You may select “Administrator”
Radio button and click “Change Account Type”
12 Now return to “Control Panel” Select “System and Security”
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13 Select “Security and Maintenance”
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14 Select “Change Security and Maintenance settings”
15 The following page will allow you turn off all messages Deselect all items and click “OK” Do this to prevent
windows from showing a popup that might interfere with CNC12
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16 After clicking “OK” you will return to the previous page Select “Change User Account Control settings” A
new Dialog will appear called “Choose when to be notified about changes to your computer” Move the slider
to the bottom for “Never notify” Click “OK”
17 Return to Control Panel > System and Security Select “Windows Defender Firewall”
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18 On the Left Side bar Select “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off”
19 Under “Private network settings” set to “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall” Under “Public network
settings” set to “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall”
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20 Return to Control Panel > System and Security Select “Power Options”
21 Select “Choose what the power buttons do” and then “Change settings that are currently unavailable” Set
the power button to “Shut down” If you see an option for “Turn on fast startup recommended ” UNCHECK
this setting Then click “Save settings”
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22 Select “High performance” button You may have to select “Show additional plans” to find it After selecting
“ High performance” Click “Change plan settings”
23 Set “ Turn off the display” to “Never” And set “ Put the computer to sleep” to “Never”
24 Click “Change advanced power settings” “Power Options” will appear
a Under “Hard disk” set “Turn off hard disk after” to “0”
b Set “Sleep” to “Never”
a If there is an option to “Hibernate” set that to “Never” also
c Scroll down under “USB settings” set “USB selective suspend setting” to “Disabled”
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d “Display” set “Turn off display after” to “0”
e Click “Apply” and “OK”
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25 Return to “Control Panel” Select “Clock and Region”
26 Select “ Date and Time”
27 Select the “Internet Time” tab and click “Change settings…” Uncheck “Synchronize with an Internet time
server” Click “OK”
28 Search “Date & Time settings” in Windows search bar and adjust “Set time automatically” to Off
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29 In the Windows search bar search for “Set Regional Format” and click on “Set Regional Format ” Set the Region
to “ United States ” and the Regional Format to “ English United States ”
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30 Right click the Task Bar and select “ Taskbar settings ”
31 Select Taskbar behaviors
32 Select “Automatically hide the taskbar”
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33 In the Windows Search bar search for “ Device Manager ” and click on the Device Manager result Navigate to
Network Adapters Right click on the Network Adapter you are using to communicate with the Centroid Control
This is the name of the Ethernet Connection found in the previous step Click on Properties Navigate to the
“ Advanced ” tab and select “ Energy Efficient Ethernet ” Set the Value to “ Disabled ” and click “ OK ” If your
Network Adapter does not have an option for Energy Efficient Ethernet please follow Step 33 instead
34 Instead of going to the “ Advanced ” like in Step 32 proceed to the “ Power Management ” tab Uncheck “ Allow the
computer to turn off this device to save power ” Click “ OK ”
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PC to CNC Communication Errors
If after configuring Windows following the above steps if you receive any communication error messages or can’t run
CNC12 please see TB 270 Solving CNCPC to MPU Communication Errors for further troubleshooting
Also see this forum thread for more information on solving communication errors
https //centroidcncforum com/viewtopic php?f=61&t=1451
After starting CNC12 for the first time please be sure to run the communications stress test G Code program found in the
cncm\ncfiles directory along with all the other sample G Code programs “ com_stress_test cnc ”
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Document History
Rev1 Created on 2019 02 14 by #423
Rev2 Created on 2023 02 25 by #358
Rev3 Created on 2023 03 03 by #358
Rev5 Created on 2023 03 28 by #443
Rev6 Created on 2023 10 26 by #476
Rev7 Created on 2023 01 05 by #490
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