Boxford TCL 125

[depronman]

Linux does sound a bit intimidating when and maybe a further complication. I think I would like to get this machine up and running before going to another level.
I have been thinking out of the box
My mill table has plugs on the drive board for each axis cable .




If I were to make two leads to plug into x and z sockets and connect to x and z motors on the lathe then I should at least be able to test the axis motors .
I do have Mach 3 on the computer so should be able to call up a Lathe profile and set it up.

I might not even need to buy any gear at all. A good Yorkshire solution maybe , but must be careful not to upset the Lancashire men

It should work for testing
Long term it would not be a great solution
Are the stepper voltages similar?

Re linuxcnc for a basic setup the step and configure wizard will work perfectly
Download the package and burn it to a DVD then pop it in a laptop or desktop and let it boot from the cd. You will be able to run a ‘test’ version to get a feel for it before you install it to a hard drive
I can talk you through the very basics of linuxcnc if it helps
Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Clive S]

This is one of the best and easiest to use linuxcnc Mint 19.3. Download

http://cnc.beaglebrainz.net/cdimage/...pace-64bit.iso

Then use https://www.balena.io/etcher/ This will make a bootable usb stick

Then set the bios in the PC to boot from USB

its as simple as that.

[JAZZCNC]

If you have the drives already then it's a no brainer to use for both. Clive S did this for years and run a Mill and Lathe from same Control box using a change over switch. Obviously you can't run both together but how likely are you to ever do that.?

Like Depronman says for a basic setup the Linux CNC Config Wizzard is easy enough to use and it costs nothing to try. You already have a working machine and know all the I/O pins so just try a Config with the settings for your Router and plug into a parallel port. Lathe is pretty much the same just less axis.

[John11668]

Will give it a try if only to prove the steppers.
Then maybe play a while maybe before I try linux. I suspect I will need some hand-holding if /when I get to that stage .
The computer I am using here cost me £50 3 years ago , and if initially I am not paying for drivers another one at £40 from Ebay isn't gonna break the budget.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Opti....c100005.m1851

And part of the cost will be getting paid by the guy who told me this was a working machine , only he doesnt know it yet.
What sort of a machine spec will I need to run linux and Am I better with 32bit or 64

And PS Anyone fancy a pair of Boxford boards to fix ?????

[Clive S]

Am I better with 32bit or 64

64bit as that is the most popular with linuxcnc.

See my post re the linuxcnc ISO.