Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

[Colin Barron]

G84 is rigid tap cycle.

You should have bought one of these.




£450 landed in UK.

No computer, no monitor, no windows license, no Mach licence, No CSIO box of tricks.

Does rigid tapping, tool changer, pendant, all built in.

These are going to be a game changer in the future.

Is this going back to the old style controllers?
Are the inputs manual or autocad? Does it connect directly to servo drivers?
Thanks
Colin

[John S]

Takes standard Fanuc G-code.

Plugs and sockets on the back to go direct to drivers, tool changer, VFD for spindle, encoder for threading or rigid tapping, probe and pendant.

[komatias]

Is this going back to the old style controllers?
Are the inputs manual or autocad? Does it connect directly to servo drivers?
Thanks
Colin

I would not say old style controllers, I would say professional. There is an element of setup but not as much as you would think. You will also need to change your habits if you are used to Mach or EMC, for example: just zeroing your part may not actually write the current offest to G54.


Some standalones, like my GSK980MDc also allow you access to the ladder logic so you can tweak it to your hearts content. Been trying to learn this myself but it is proving a tad difficult since there is very little to go on except some cryptic manuals.

Another element I have seen is that some controllers will accept DXF file direct input for drilled holes. You set each hole size in a different coloured layer and do all the coding on the console.

What I really like is that it moves away from the classic argument of EMC vs Mach, parallel vs motion controller etc. It just sort of works.

[Davek0974]

To get back on track....

Have decided to replace the little Bridgeport motor and simple V/Hz VFD with a 3Hp inverter rated motor, sensorless-vector vfd, timing belt drive and encoder - this should give me usable torque and power from about 300rpm to 3000rpm and also semi-closed-loop speed regulation as Mach and the CSMIO controller will maintain the speed as load changes, up to the point of tripping the vfd :)

It means i can finally get rid of the clattering vari-speed pulleys and power-sapping drive and not have to mess with setting the speed manually. I also get actual speed display on-screen.

Also got the braking resistor so stopping time should be about 1s or less.

[John S]

Told you ages ago you should have bought that step speed head with brand new 3Hp motor already fitted ( sigh )

[Davek0974]

Yeah i know, live and learn :)

I think this this will be a step ahead of even the step-pulley though as it will be timing belt drive and no step-pulleys at all ;)

Needs the timing belt as i'm mounting the encoder on the motor shaft at 1:1 drive

[Davek0974]

Any ideas for encoder mounting?

I was thinking of coming off the end of the motor shaft - there is an M10 threaded hole in it, then connecting the encoder to the shaft. I'm not sure if a rigid connection is a good idea though, is a coupling of some sort better here??

The other option is a 36t HTD5 pulley bored out to 35mm to fit the spindle shaft and mount this between the spindle drive pulley and the old lower vari-disk/brake disk in the head then mount the encoder out the front where the old speed control used to live using another 36t pulley. Not as cosmetic as the motor shaft idea but??

Any thoughts?

[Boyan Silyavski]

I remember when once was looking into that, that there were encoders that could count straight from the HTD pulley teeth. though there was some limit on the speed, but i think you are in. Though cant remember more for them right now