I've been programming newer and larger cnc machines for several years. I want my own machine and have an opportunity to buy a slightly used Bridgeport R2C3 with Heidenhein 145 Control.

1. It can't read G-code right??? Special event style programming?

2. Can it cut a helix? Thread mill etc..?

3. If the machine is in good shape is it worth retroing to a newer control?

Thanks!

It is a good solid machine, however, it cannot read g-code, heidenhain only, some post processors support it to some degree.

It cannot do a helix, and combined with a 1000 line memory, can be a challenge if you needed to do such a thing even with CAD.

If you are trying to do artsy cad cam work, you need a retro, and the only weakness of this machine for a retro is that it uses Bosch SCR style drives, IOW it does not have a big DC power supply in it.

I have one that has been doing job shop work for 15 years, and had been very dependable.

In that time, I replaced nothing prior to 2003. It lost a monitor[endemic at this vintage] and then a power supply [I had a spare control and traded it out] I had a bad seal on the y motor and had to clean it out every year or so, dropped it and shattered the magnets. Found one on ebay for ~500 bucks.


If you are doing regular machine work, 2 1/2 axis, buy it and run it.

I you really need full 3 axis, and can live with 200ipm and moderate accel and decel, leave the power enclosure alone and just replace the head, the motors tachs and servos are decent enough, and the power supplies and wiring are better than anything you will see.

I f you need to run faster, get a set of copley dc drives and a 100v power supply, but leave the rest, why reinvent the wheel? you can easily run it at ~300 ipm with more modern drives, with steeper acceleration.

Good information...

"I you really need full 3 axis, and can live with 200ipm and moderate accel and decel, leave the power enclosure alone and just replace the head, the motors tachs and servos are decent enough, and the power supplies and wiring are better than anything you will see. "

Can you explain this further, just replace the head?? leave the power enclosure...

control head,everything in the pendant

I have one and am happy with it. There have been only a few jobs I had to turn down because I could not mill threads. Good machine.
Good Luck!!