Boxford 190vmc upgrade

[j brougham]

Hi All

I have just aquired the same VMC190 and responce from Boxford. As anybody come up with a solution to date?

If you have it would be nice to share info on this problem.

[davethesteam]

Hi JB,

I think either solution is viable, depending slightly on what you want from the machine. In spite of my choice of the CDE system Mach3 is a well supported system, both the Mach3 and CDE routes are similar in cost, in both cases you can keep the motor drive and stepper drives if they are working properly. Whilst I don't have my machine running, there always seems to be something else to do , I'm not expecting any problems and apart from the reservations I already expressed it's a case of choosing which way you are happiest with and going with it. If you don't need the rigid tapping that's the major objection out of the way, but do make sure you get hardware with a charge pump circuit to shut down everything if the PC crashes. I was going to go for DIYCNC System4 if I went Mach3, looks good and very good prices.

So do some research, look at prices and choose which way makes you feel best.

David

[swood1]

Hi David,

How did you get on with your conversion? I have been playing with a smoothstepper board and got my machine running to a point (not got the tool changer running nor the spindle control yet). But have now acquired a new BoB (PMDX-126), so hopefully I can get everything running. Originally I got some cheap drives of Fleebay but I think I can retain the original drives as I believe they are better (the ones I bought seem to keep missing steps atleast I think it's them).

Regards

Steve

[davethesteam]

Hello Steve,

Regrettably progress has been almost zero. I have all the bits but have not had time to get anything running. Various excuses are available. I am currently designing panels for the VMC and my Conect lathe, then hopefully I can get on with doing something useful towards the rebuild.

I'm interested in the mechanics of the toolchanger. I shall have to make one for my machine as they seem like hen's teeth. I've found a video one on youtube but it doesn't show too much. I am assuming an air cylinder pushes the changer into place and another does the indexing. If you have any photos of the right hand part of the mechanism I'd be grateful, similarly the drive parts of the indexer.

I have lots of things I want to do with this so my lack of progress is infuriating, but the bills must be paid!!

I'm not sure I'd recommend keeping the original drives, I doubt they will microstep. I'm using CDE drives and processor. Go to http://www.eaziform.co.uk/index.php?home to see what he does. I have the M401 board for both machines plus a set of the stepper drives for each machine, but I will probably be using the newer 'Atom' board for the mill as it will be easier to drive the toolchanger, 12 axes etc.

With steppers I believe a lot depends on the current settings which must match the motor and the ramp rates. I am also told microstepping boards can drive motors faster as the transfer the power more smoothly between steps rather than jumping a whole step.

Hi David,

How did you get on with your conversion? I have been playing with a smoothstepper board and got my machine running to a point (not got the tool changer running nor the spindle control yet). But have now acquired a new BoB (PMDX-126), so hopefully I can get everything running. Originally I got some cheap drives of Fleebay but I think I can retain the original drives as I believe they are better (the ones I bought seem to keep missing steps atleast I think it's them).

Regards

Steve

[swood1]

Hi Dave/all,

I have progressed quite well over the weekend with mine. I wasnt happy with the original setup/hybrid so I bought a better breakout board (PMDX-126), this seems to give all the I/O you could possibly need. I stripped out the Serial Porcessor Board but retained the stepper drive and it's respective board. I have connected the PMDX BoB up to the Stepper board and managed to get all the stepper motors running. Now just trying to connect the BoB to the spindle. I have the original Lenze Spindle Drive and isolation card and have left this completely as it was my thought being that I should be able to control the spindle from my new BoB, although I have been struggling with connecting this up.

I also removed the 3rd Axis Processor Board as this will no longer be required (it looks like it was just feeding step/dir back to the stepper board).

I believe getting the motors running is the easy bit. Getting the spindle, toolchanger and all the switches working are more challenging. Also, I would like to connect the switch control panel back up to the machine so they can be used. We shall see.

Steve

[swood1]

Hi all,

I have taken a photograph showing the board I have retained (mainly as it has the drives attached). With regards 0v, 12v, -12v, Ang, Dir, Ena. I believe these are all specific to the Spindle. My question is does anyone know if I can connect them directly to my BoB. I have worked out if Enable connector is 12v supply and when connected to the wire on the Lenze it starts the Spindle motor. I have also worked out that if you connect the 'dir' wire to 0v that also kicks the reversing relay.

Any help on how to wire to my BoB would be appreciated as struggling now. If you look in the photo XD, XC, ZD, ZC and CL5, CL6 are all the step, direction for the x, y, z axis which have all connected straight to my BoB.

PS. I have a PMDX-126 BoB and PMDX-107 Isolated Speed Control board although I am not 100% sure I need the 107 board.


Regards

Steven

[JAZZCNC]

Hi Steven,

You will need the 107 board has it provides the 0-10V analog voltage source. It also provides you with couple of Solid state relays to Control Run and Dir.
(thou strictly speaking these are not needed and you could just use normal outputs.)

I'm not expert on these Boxfords but I'm pretty sure that the +12v & -12V are not for the spindle speed unless the lenze needs analog + & - voltage for speed control and direction.? I think not thou.!!

Personally I think you would connect the Aout on the 107 to Ang and Agnd to 0V thou often the 0V usually as some ref to Analog Gnd like "Ana 0v".?
The Enable and Dir would just be controlled via the relays.

What Card is this your showing.?

[fireburst]

Hi,

I have just purchased a used Boxford 190VMC and a used Denford Micromill 2000 that I would like to put to use for low volume signage mainly wood or cast acrylics.

The Boxford is missing the original software so I would like to utilise Mach3. Will I need to modify to allow the use of Mach3?

As a side note I have a TinyG v8 card. Would I be able to utilise this in a USB upgrade?

Any help would be appreciated

Andy

[mekanik]

Hi Andy
This thread is two year old, you would be better starting one of your own.
Regards
Mike

[fireburst]

Thanks I have started a new thread