Centroid CNC control sales, service, training and support
These are MPG (Manual Pulse Generator) pendants used with Centroid controls from 1994 to present. The MPG provides an electronic handwheel for axis jogging control.
Housing is machined from aluminum billet.
May have either 32-count HP pulse generator and plastic handwheel, or 100-count Sumtak or Daido pulse generator and metal handwheel.
Contains Centroid microcontroller for communication with the host jog panel, mounted to bottom of enclosure.
Compatible with CPU7 and CPU10 based controls.
This model is essentially the same as the ca. 1994 model, except for an enclosure that was less costly to produce.
Housing is stamped aluminum, with cover mounting posts riveted to sides.
May have either 32-count HP pulse generator and plastic handwheel, or 100-count Sumtak or Daido pulse generator and metal handwheel.
Contains Centroid microcontroller for communication with the host jog panel, mounted to bottom of enclosure.
Compatible with CPU7 and CPU10 based controls.
This model has the same features as the 1994 and 1996 models, but has a molded plastic enclosure echoing the M39 control's jog panel pendant.
The same aluminum top plate, with handwheel, axis selector switch, and microcontroller board attached, can be installed into a ca. 1998 M39 control pendant to add MPG capability.
May have either 32-count HP pulse generator and plastic handwheel, or 100-count Sumtak or Daido pulse generator and metal handwheel.
Contains Centroid microcontroller for communication with the host jog panel, mounted to back of the top plate, behind the axis select switch.
This microcontroller board is laid out differently from that in the earlier models: the connector for the external cable is on the back (non-component) side of the circuit board, as shown below.
Compatible with CPU7 and CPU10 based controls.
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The 32-count encoder used with the plastic-handwheel versions of the
Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 MPGs is -- or can be replaced with -- an Avago/Broadcom
HRPG-AD32#16C encoder. Availability of these tends to be limited.
An HRPG-AD32#13C encoder can be used as well, though the shorter shaft
makes installation more difficult.
In this time period Centroid transitioned to supporting and selling Asian commodity market MPG handwheel pendants. The supporting electronics were added to the host jog panel circuit boards, and the 8-pin receptacle was replaced with a 28-pin one.
Has a 100-count pulse generator and plastic handwheel, and has an increment-select switch in addition to the axis-select switch. The pulse generator output is open-collector (one wire each for A and B channels).
Compatible with CPU10 based controls with JOGPIC7 or later jog panel boards.
With the introduction of the MPU11-family hardware, Centroid continued to use Asian commodity market MPG handwheel pendants, but switched to a model with a differential (line drive) pulse generator output.
The supporting electronics and firmware were incorporated into the MPU11 family control boards (including MPU11, All-in-one DC, and Oak).
The 28-pin receptacle was retained, but a different set of pins was assigned for the pulse generator signal, to avoid compatibilty issues between CPU10-family hardware and MPU11-family hardware.
Has a 100-count pulse generator and plastic handwheel, and has an increment-select switch in addition to the axis-select switch. The pulse generator output is differential (two wires each for A and B channels).
Compatible with MPU11-family controls.
Wireless USB handwheel, introduced to accompany the Acorn hobby/DIY control unit (which has no provision for a wired MPG), but also available for use with MPU11-family controls.
CNC12 control software version 4.12 or later is required, as well as a PLC program which receives MPG event data through a helper application, MpgClient.exe.
Has a 100-count pulse generator and plastic handwheel, increment-select switch, 4-position axis-select switch, and 13 buttons.
Compatible with MPU11-family controls and Acorn controls.
A slightly updated version, called WMPG-4, is nearly identical. On a WMPG-4, the "Jog +" and "Jog -" buttons are swapped, and there is a Centroid logo in the center of the wheel.
If you have a WPMG-4, set Machine Parameter 411 to a value of 1.0 to
swap the jog button functions.
Copyright © 2020 Marc Leonard
Last updated 24-Apr-2020 MBL
