Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: BOSS5 to Mach2/Gecko

Jeff,

Can you please also email me this information as well.
I have a Boss5 that I would like to get switched over as well.
Just undecided on if I will be doing it with the existing strepper
motors or
Servos. Servos would be great if I can find the right motors at the
right price.
Still in the elementary learning stages of what it will take to do this
and I
am trying to gather all the info possible and make sence of it all.

Thanks,

Luke


ja_erickson wrote:

>Evening Brady,
>
>I did alot of research into the project and would be glad to share all
>of the information that i have, I will gather all of the schematics
>for the "return energy dump circuit" as well as anything else as far
>as power supply calculations and part numbers for the stuff i used.
>i wasnt an electrical genius before i started the project and i'm
>still not, but it is a task that can be done if you take your time
>and use this group for any questions.there is another site that has
>been created for gecko drives, you may want to investigate that site
>for further information about power supplies and related stuff. i
>have to say that i am really glad that i bought geckos, not because
>of their price but because the owner of the company always had time
>to talk to me personally and helped me to understand what was
>happening and how to correct it. that in itself is unheard of by any
>other company that i have ever dealt with.as far as the full or half
>or micro step settings go, i tried them all. i'll have to check my
>notes to verify which worked best but one thing that i do remember is
>this. in talking with mariss of gecko drives we came to the
>conclusion that the bridgeport steppers of that vintage may not be
>able to provide a really smooth "unsteppy like" motion at lower
>speeds because of the motors inherent characteristics i believe the
>term he used was "linearity".the gearing on the mill was left as it
>was from the factory, belt driven, stock ratio.
>
>I'll e-mail you the stuff sunday night, any other questions feel free
>to ask, i'll be glad to help.
>
>Jeff
>
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>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "braidmeister"
><braidmeister@y...> wrote:
>
>
>>Thanks for sharing the info, Jeff.
>>
>>I am not opposed to going the Gecko route with another power
>>
>>
>supply.
>
>
>>Would you be willing to share your power supply plans with me? I
>>
>>
>had
>
>
>>a book on power supplies...and no lie, the dog ate it! Sounds like
>>your PS would be perfect for my machine as well. Also, info on
>>the 'return energy dump circuit' would be helpful too as I am no
>>electronic expert. I am willing to compensate you for your sharing
>>
>>
>if
>
>
>>need be, off-list.
>>
>>I do CNC routing and CNC plasma cutting and I want to take some of
>>the 3D router files that I have and run them on the BP. I can't do
>>that right now with the factory setup.
>>
>>Thanks!!!
>>-Brady
>>
>>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "ja_erickson"
>><ja_erickson@y...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Evening All,
>>>
>>>I have been doing my Boss5 retrofit project for some time now and
>>>have done exactly what you want to do with the exception of the
>>>
>>>
>>power
>>
>>
>>>supplies. i built my own 72 volt/7 amp toroidal power supplies
>>>
>>>
>and
>
>
>>>used gecko g210's with pretty good results. I rewired the
>>>
>>>
>original
>
>
>>>bridgeport steppers to run in "half winding" which will provided
>>>
>>>
>>more
>>
>>
>>>low speed torque. according to my bridgeport manuals the original
>>>steppers were designed for 68 volts and 6.8 amps which is right
>>>
>>>
>on
>
>
>>the
>>
>>
>>>upper side for the geckos. I was concerned about it until i spoke
>>>
>>>
>>to
>>
>>
>>>the owner of gecko drives and he assured me that 72 volts and 7
>>>
>>>
>amps
>
>
>>>would be alright for the 201/210 series. he also warned that it
>>>
>>>
>>would
>>
>>
>>>be WISE to incorporate a "return energy dump circuit" in order
>>>to protect the drive against any "returned energy" from the
>>>
>>>
>motors
>
>
>>>during sudden stops.neither the drives or the motors ran hot so
>>>
>>>
>>fans
>>
>>
>>>for the drives were not needed.the campbell breakout board is a
>>>
>>>
>>must
>>
>>
>>>have item becuase it really provides alot of interfacing in a
>>>relatively small footprint, well worth the cost. motor tuning
>>>
>>>
>with
>
>
>>>mach2 went really smooth, just dont expect the machine to move
>>>
>>>
>like
>
>
>>a
>>
>>
>>>new c.n.c., the machine would lose steps if the accelerations
>>>
>>>
>were
>
>
>>to
>>
>>
>>>great and i think i could achieve 60-80 i.p.m. reliably.however
>>>
>>>
>>there
>>
>>
>>>was a problem with the system in the end where any feedrates
>>>
>>>
>below 4
>
>
>>>i.p.m. were very steppy, by this i mean you could put your hand
>>>
>>>
>on
>
>
>>>the table and actually feel the motors step. i couldnt have that
>>>because i was afraid of tool marks on the workpiece. i talked
>>>
>>>
>with
>
>
>>>the owner of gecko drives and he helped me all he could to
>>>
>>>
>rectify
>
>
>>>that situation but we couldnt get rid of that steppiness. if that
>>>situation doesnt bother you then i wouldnt hesitate to retro it.
>>>
>>>Jeff
>>>
>>>
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