Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Series 1 Bridegport CNC manuals?

Hi Pete,

From your information it look like I have a BOSS 4 or 5.

From what I have found out on the net, Geckos are slightly underpowered
for the Bridgeport motors. I am running them at 65V, 7A so the max rapid
speed will be lower than your BOSS 6 control. I have the programming
manual and it says the max rapid speed for my machine is 1.2m/min
(50IPM) so I am still running faster than the original control.

My original plan was to keep the Bridgeport control for a while then
retrofit modern electronics at a later date. As the machine does not
work at the moment, my schedule has been advanced somewhat :-) I already
have the drives and power supply so it should not take me long to get
the machine to a stage where it will cut metal. Already I have removed
and scrapped the control computer box, moved the power box to where the
control computer went and refitted all the external cabling. Moving the
power box around like this means the machine will fit in my workshop a
lot better.

If all goes to plan (yeah, right) I will be able to fit the Geckos,
power supply and PC next weekend. All I need to do is find a PC case
that is small enough to fit inside the control box.

The machine is fitted with a Bijur automatic oiler. Do you know what
signals I need to send it to get it to operate? I assume it isn't just a
case of apply 110V and let it get on with it :-)

Thanks,
Les

>Les, I have a BOSS 6 (the last of the stepper models) and it rapids
>at 120ipm so no need to go slower. I think the BOSS control uses
>somewhere between 70V to 80V to drive the steppers. If your machine
>has the 1/2 step (.0005" LED) on the jog controls, then it is a BOSS
>6. If not, it's an older model. This would be hard to determins if
>the unit is not working so it might be best to check the boards in
>the side cabinet to determine what you have.
>
>To the best of my knowledge, here's the info on the boards:
>
>BOSS 6.0
>ZDI I/O
>NTP Interpolation
>ZCK Feed rates
>ERS ROM & serial
>
>BOSS 4.0-5.0
>XDI I/O
>RCK Feed rates
>ERS ROM & serial
>
>BOSS 3.0
>BCC I/O
>RCK Feed rates
>RSI ROM & serial
>
>I think you're better off spending your money on the retrofit as even
>the BOSS 6 control is pretty limited. You cannot drip feed it and the
>program memory is small. Some of the older BOSS controls don't even
>do multi quadrant circular interpolation so they are really a pain.
>
>~petev
>
>