Messages

31

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 16, 2010, 11:43:39 PM »

Timmy are you saying you used the stock sigma or superior motors on your retrofit or you use that other stepper just as a model for your setup since you didn't know the specs.

The Ametek size 42 stepper is not on your machine right.

32

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 16, 2010, 05:16:16 PM »

Thanks for the info,

I forgot to mention that I have decided to retrofit a boss 5.1 instead of the 6.2. The reason is we had two sold to us 2 weeks after this post was created.
One was in bad shape as far as the old boss 5 control and the other was really good. So i used the bad shape machine, iron was still good.
I hope this doesn't change anything I am assuming that the only difference is the gearing between the two machines and that they used equivalent motors to run both models.

Timmy what was the similiar stepper from, another bridgeport boss or another stepper from a machine.

Thanks for your help
I plan on ordering a psu and transformer tonight, will update

33

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 15, 2010, 11:19:05 PM »

Hey guys,
Few questions, still confused about the power supply

Does anyone know what the specs are for a bridgeport stock stepper p/n 025805, Amp, Volt, inductance ?
Reason for inductance is that the manual for the gecko drives say if you know the inductance you can find the optimal voltage required for the motors.

What did you guys use to heatsink the geckodrives?

Timmy:  just curious why did you pick that power supply with that voltage?
are you original motors above rated above 7Amps ?
Do you have these wired in series or parallel?
Are you using half windings?

I know that some are using the geckos and the stock steppers at 8+ Amps max, how are you guys making sure that the drives do not exceed 7 Amps so they do not destroy them. If you had the drive open at 7Amps wouldn't the steppers want to draw more than the rated amperage of the drives  and burn them up or shut them down?



Just confused and anxious to try to get something going thanks again guys.

34

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 12, 2010, 11:49:39 PM »

thanks for the responses,

did you guys use another way to power the spindle or did you power it with the made or bought psu and transformer?

Can i use a vfd with the supplied spindle on the Bridgeport and do you recomend any vfds?

Would you definately use a smoothstepper for this retrofit or would you do without one?

Also keep in mind that i will be using this machine as a high production machine.  I do not know what to expect I hope it will be as durable as the boss control if not better.

Just curious using a g203 gecko over all the others with the same specs.  Should of I picked a different gecko for my application or are they all the same except 203 has more protection?


Thanks again

35

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 11, 2010, 07:23:35 AM »

Hello,

Could this all be powered by a  PMDX-135-8020 power supply and a  Hammond Manufacturing

Transformer, Toroidal Power; 1000VA; Chassis; Pri:117/234VAC; Sec:Ser 48VCT, Par 24V 


The PMDX-135 is a power preparation module for use with CNC motor drivers

Offered in 80 volt and 50 volt versions
Supplies up to 20 Amperes of filtered, unregulated DC when connected to a suitable input transformer
Includes electronic load "DUMP" to help prevent overvoltage when motors produce "back EMF" during rapid deceleration
Provides rapid power off discharge of storage capacitors (under 5 seconds) for additional user safety
Utilizes multiple filter capacitors in order to better handle ripple current heating effects
Utilizes heavy duty bridge rectifier mounted to a large heatsink
Indicators furnished for "DC Output ON" and back EMF "DUMP"
Ideal power source for our PMDX-132 Breakout/Motherboard Combo for Geckodrive stepper motor drivers
Can be used to power all models of Geckodrive stepper and servo motor drivers and also drivers from many other vendors
Has enough power capability to run 4 Geckodrive stepper motor drivers at full power




As far as a power supply and a transformer I have no idea how to design one and i'd rather and feel safer if i bought something that would work than fry something or myself. 

Let me know what you huys think when you have time, thanks
 

36

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: March 09, 2010, 05:24:56 PM »

Ok,

Yesterday, I finished building a PC to run this thing.

CPU     P4 3.2 Ghz HT
MEM    2 GB PC 4200 Kingston
HDD    40 GB SATA
GPU    256 MB NVidia 8400 GS
LCD     ELO 15 " Touchscreen (Resistive Type)
OS       XP Pro 32 bit


Today, I have just ordered a PMDX122 BOB and 3 203V's. I am going to use the original Steppers and spindle for now, just so I can play around with functions in Mach3; wiring, tuning, and moving.  While I am waiting for the parts I am currently going to start building a power supply or I might buy one if feasible, Any Suggestions?

The reason I picked the PMDX122 and 203V's is:

Most of you are using that board for the bridgeport boss and it seems to be adequete and reliable. 
The 203v's I got just because I liked the protection that was on them, I am a noob

I do have a Question though as far as some of you are using the smoothestepper with the PMDX122, what is the advantage I am confused. Some say they could not get it to work with their system and some say it works great.  Why do some incoporate it?

Thanks Joe

37

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: January 21, 2010, 03:45:24 PM »

What would be the advantage with a AC servo than DC servos, would you have to buy something extra or different to run that type of servo, other than BOB, servo drives, encoders.

38

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: January 20, 2010, 08:20:21 PM »

I have not done any retrofitting yet still in the process of selecting components for the build.
The rapids would be whatever it was originally stocked with
Gearing would also be what it was originally stocked with 2:1
Manual spindle
Hood do you have steppers and what rapid do you get with reliability
Also beautiful job on the 6.1, Wow
Would of you considered or did anything different to your conversion
thanks

39

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: January 19, 2010, 08:31:52 PM »

I hope I could use the original steppers and spindle motor, because their are 6 boss 5's that I would like to convert over if the boss 6 seems to be more reliable and accurate.

I hope I could get the same rapids and feed as the old control

These would be used for high production such as a continious loop of drilling cycles and small milling passes.

As hood mentioned before the old steppers need more amperage than what the geckodrives have (7A 80VDC)

Basically, I want the same capabilities that the boss 5 controll offers already but I just want them more relaible such as when someone is running them in the middle of the night I don't get a phone call saying that an axis went out, which would require me to go down and fix it.

So as cheap as possible with respect to reliability and speed I was hoping maybe a 1000, which would not include the cost of a PC and Mach3

I have read that some people kept the power supply that the bridgeport already had but maybe modded it a bit

40

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: BRIDGEPORT SERIES II CNC MILL W/ BOSS 6 CONTROL RETROFIT

« on: January 14, 2010, 07:01:35 AM »

I see that on this forum as well as the cnczone that alot of people are retrofitting using the geckodrives.  I also noticed a post on the cnczone that someone posted that the boss 5 stepper motors are around 8 Amp. The largest geckodrive supports 7A and 80VDC. Is there other drives that satisfy the big steppers in the BP that anyone has tried succesfully. I would be using this as a production machine and not a hobby machine. Thanks