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Project "YOU Bit It Off, YOU chew it", aka installing a Bridgeport CNC
AdeV:
No problem John, I had my tongue fairly firmly in my cheek... I guess I'll have to go register at cnczone now...
Thanks for the link Dave; that particular CD doesn't (it covers the BOSS controllers), but I shall ask him if he has manuals for my machine anyway (another eBay seller has paper ones, I'd prefer the CD I think).
I can still download manuals for the controller, so hopefully learning to program it "as it is" should be possible; I'd like to figure out drip-feeding it from a CAD/CAM system (Mach3 IIRC is the opensource one).
Other John - yep, 3-phase :) I couldn't live without it, all my big machines are 3phase. I have a 3ph alternator to attach to one of my diesel engines too, in case I ever end up somewhere without a suitable supply...
Of course.... first things first.... got to get it running....
AdeV:
--- Quote from: Stilldrillin on June 07, 2012, 05:48:47 PM ---Ohhhh........ That's nice, Ade! :bugeye:
Good luck with the dry out, and installation. :thumbup:
--- End quote ---
Thanks David, it's not bad is it? I was worried I wouldn't have room for it, but it's just squeezed in nicely, and now I'll have somewhere to sit while running the lathe too :palm:
Brass_Machine:
That is a beefy looking machine you got there Ade! :drool:
I am sure with your skills, it will be up and running just fine.
Eric
DMIOM:
--- Quote from: AdeV on June 07, 2012, 07:12:08 PM ---..... Thanks for the link Dave; that particular CD doesn't (it covers the BOSS controllers), but I shall ask him if he has manuals for my machine anyway (another eBay seller has paper ones, I'd prefer the CD I think).....
--- End quote ---
Ade - sorry that I didn't make it clearer in my previous message, but that vendor is from a well-renowned family, where they've just scrapped a TOS lathe :coffee: and who has in fact just answered above !
--- Quote ---....I can still download manuals for the controller, so hopefully learning to program it "as it is" should be possible; I'd like to figure out drip-feeding it from a CAD/CAM system....
--- End quote ---
Once you've got the machine up & running, I'd be glad to help as I've got my machine working OK on dripfeed. The only caution I'd raise is that I seem to remember that not all of the early TNCs could accept block-wise dripfeed.
--- Quote ---... (Mach3 IIRC is the opensource one)....
--- End quote ---
Mach3 is free to download and the free version can run small programs; need the licensed version to run larger programs. EMC, running under Linux, is the open source one.
cheers / Dave
AdeV:
--- Quote from: DMIOM on June 08, 2012, 04:04:28 AM ---
--- Quote from: AdeV on June 07, 2012, 07:12:08 PM ---..... Thanks for the link Dave; that particular CD doesn't (it covers the BOSS controllers), but I shall ask him if he has manuals for my machine anyway (another eBay seller has paper ones, I'd prefer the CD I think).....
--- End quote ---
Ade - sorry that I didn't make it clearer in my previous message, but that vendor is from a well-renowned family, where they've just scrapped a TOS lathe :coffee: and who has in fact just answered above !
--- End quote ---
Aaaaah, suddenly it becomes clear. And to think I was going to see if John could pick the manuals up as the seller was just down the road from him! Hadn't realised he was in fact right next door..... Yeah, scrapping that big TOS lathe, quite rude if you ask me, I'm always on the lookout for machinery that's far too big for me...
No worries, I will have a look at getting the paper manual, it's a tenner, but if I'm going to treat the machine properly I should probably do it right...
--- Quote ---
--- Quote ---....I can still download manuals for the controller, so hopefully learning to program it "as it is" should be possible; I'd like to figure out drip-feeding it from a CAD/CAM system....
--- End quote ---
Once you've got the machine up & running, I'd be glad to help as I've got my machine working OK on dripfeed. The only caution I'd raise is that I seem to remember that not all of the early TNCs could accept block-wise dripfeed.
--- End quote ---
Mine is the TNC150, which I believe will accept blockwise drip-feed (the MDI machine had a 145, which would take external programming, but not drip-fed). I would definitely like to take you up on any help you can give - when I bought the manual Bridgeport, I'd watched a 12-hour video tutorial (several times), so I already felt I knew the machine well when I got it; same deal with the lathe... but CNC, other than knowing roughly what to expect from cutters, I'm flying totally blind...
--- Quote ---Mach3 is free to download and the free version can run small programs; need the licensed version to run larger programs. EMC, running under Linux, is the open source one.
--- End quote ---
Dat de one. I think my mate Pete uses EMC on his converted Interact, but his is a different model to mine (his has steppers, mine has servo motors), and he's binned the original controller entirely. I plan to keep mine, for now, either until it lets the magic smoke out, or becomes too limiting (hmm, really? too limiting? :loco:)
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