Re: BOSS5 to Mach2/Gecko

Thanks again, Jeff!!!

I really appreciate the effort!

-Brady

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "ja_erickson"
<ja_erickson@y...> 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