Series I Bridgeport

[sandcrab]

Newbie CNC, but old manual mill and caster. Had the machine a while, but just decided to get a controller and am shopping craigslist for a shop computer to run a mach3 simulation. Intended use might be patternmaking or finishing castings. Time will tell.

[Rkjohn]

I bought a laptop computer on ebay & it worked just fine for Mach3. paid $150.00.

[sandcrab]

That's interesting. Have you run a maachine with it yet? The site cautions against laptops because the battery saver modes interrupt the flow. I am looking at the same price for a desktop and may have to add the video card to get the 32 MB called for.

[sandcrab]

This machine lacks the limit switch on the Z axis, but has the micro switches on the X and Y. Any suggestions on what to use on the Z? The cover is there, and the stop is on the quill.

[Rkjohn]

Yes I ran a machime with it. Worked very well

[Hood]

sandcrab
Some laptops are fine others not, older laptops have more chance of working but unless you know of a certain make and model that works then no one can say if it will or wont so its pay your money and take your chance.
Hood

[sandcrab]

OK Thanks Hood.
Cancel the question on the limit switches. I dug to the bottom of the basket and found them.

New Question: This machine has the Standard Electric Slo-Syn steppers and have been asked about the voltage and current to set up a resistor in the 203 Gecko drives. The only numbers I can get off the top cover is "p/n 025805 this is alternate motor for 026744".

Any ideas for a starting voltage and current?

[Hood]

If its the original style huge finned type steppers then I think they are 9 amp, so if using with Geckos you will not need any resistor. As for voltage the 80V max  for  the Geckos would be about right.

Hood

[sandcrab]

Yes Hood, the large finned barrel steppers probably an '80's machine.
I'll pass that info along and see what new questions pops up.
Thanks

[Hood]

Just been doing a bit of searching, maybe this thread will be about similar motors?
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/cad-cam/bandit-controller-mastercam-179581/index2.html