The Centroid USB Operator Control Panel Interface Board (aka “USB-BOB”) is a CNC machine tool operator control panel interface board that connects to the CNCPC via a USB port. The Operator Control Panel Interface Board is intended to be an affordable, reliable, alternative to traditional methods of building CNC control operator control consoles/panels. The USB-BOB provides inputs for the most commonly used operator controls in a package that installs quickly with minimal fuss saving on wiring/installation labor and CNC controller inputs. It features inputs for three standard rotary encoders with integrated push-button, three MPG hand-wheel encoder inputs, 12 optically isolated switch inputs, and 12 open collector LED outputs. The USB-BOB can be used in conjunction with Centroid’s popular Virtual Control Panel or without.
The USB-BOB is plug and play with preprogrammed button and knob functionality: Many common functions like Cycle Cancel, Tool Check, Feed Hold and Cycle Start along with Rapid Override, Spindle Speed Override and Feedrate Override are preprogrammed and user select-able with easy drag and drop installation.
In addition to these pre-programmed controls, all controls are user configurable through Centroid’s CNC PLC language so user can customize both the button or knob functionality to suit their application and tastes.
Common uses:
• Physical buttons and knobs for core/common operator functions simplifying the design for a hard operator console
• Supplement Centroid Virtual Control Panel with physical controls without using up any CNC control board inputs
• Add separate Rapid Override to Centroid Legacy control systems that did not have this feature.
Centroid "USB-BOB" Operator Control Panel Interface Manual
USB-BOB is compatible with CNC12 Mill, Lathe, Router, Plasma v5.20+ and is drag and drop super easy customizable using the Acorn, AcornSix, and Hickory Wizard.
When using the USB-BOB with the Centroid Allin1DC and Oak CNC control platforms there is no setup Wizard (like Acorn, AcornSix and Hickory), the USB-BOB is compatible with the Centroid Allin1DC and Oak CNC control platforms and is supported through a few CNC12 parameters (to let CNC12 know to look for a USB-BOB) and then the Centroid PLC program handles all the rest of the inputs and outputs for the USB-BOB. Note: For the Allin1DC and Oak it is required to edit the Allin1DC or Oak CNC controller PLC program to match your custom inputs and outputs of the USB-BOB and then compile it. The Centroid PLC source code is human readable, open source and the compiler and even a debugger is all available for free. Instructions on how to edit and compile Centroid PLC programs are published and we also offer the PLC program modification as a service (purchase here) if you don't want to do it yourself.
Compatible with:
Michael Rommel –
i use the USB-BOB on a multi-axis lathe and it is the best expansion board i can imagine. i like the touchscreen-interface of the controller itself, but some functions need to be very reliable and therefore hardswitches are way better. i build a hardware swich control panel with it and the usage of the machine is now way more intuitive. the rapidfeed encoder is my most used function, also spindle control, cycle start / stop and the axis encoder are very nice funtions. the whole system is very reliable, no connection issues, no lag or malfunctions. Hardware looks like high quality, software is perfect, USB BOB can be configured by Wizzard very easily. i can recommend this expansion everyone who is working seriously with the machine.