Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] BP II duplicator conversion

k8zre wrote:

>Advice please...I have access to a BP series II machine with the x,y,
>and z axis all driven by hydraulic motors. The motors are controlled
>by a device I am not familiar with but strikes me as being like a
>digitizers with a probe. Push the probe in certain directions drives
>the x/y table and the z axis. All axes have ball screws and nuts.
>Since this machine is a reasonable buy, would it make a device to
>retrofit for CNC??
>

Sure. But don't plan on using the hydraulics. Much better to switch
over to electric servo drive.

> The hydraulic motors are about the same size and
>position as servo's driven BP mills I have seen. The motors appear
>to be driving a pulley/belt rather than direct drive. The z axis is
>the knee of the machine and not the head. I wounder if servo's would
>be powerful enough to move the knee up and down (I don't believe that
>the knee has a counter weight system)
>

Sure, a big enough servo would have no problem. But, when you turn it
off, you need something
to keep the knee from crashing to the bottom. Big air cylinders or auto
liftgate gas springs
would be good for this. A pair of large car gas springs could probably
be rigged between the base
and knee to support much of the weight.

> In place of the machine head
>is a long slotted plate for mounting multiple machine heads.
>

This is the "T-Ram". It is a very common option on the duplicators.
Are you saying there
is NO machining head at all? They mount to the T-ram with a fixture
available from
Bridgeport. But, you may find a servicable J head is more that the
machine you are
buying!

Jon