Need help with a Boxford Duet Lathe/Mill

[txcowdog]

It sounds as though you have put an incredible amount of time and thought into this process and I am fascinated with your progress. I have two of these and would be interested to see some pictures when you get an extra minute.

[binraker]

Here is the pic of the new controller board.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/binraker/2091844638/

[txcowdog]

I see you have the original power supply. Lucky you, I just have the machine itself. Nice job on the new board. It looks like you are almost finished with your upgrade and will soon have a fully functional machine. That is some great work. Congrats.

[binraker]

If you are missing the power supply its not a complex thing to build. There is a 12VDC supply for the electronics, 100VDC for the spindle motor and a 24V supply for the lamp. Then just some relays to control the spindle motor, the PWM board which is not a complex thing to copy or make something to do that job and finally the emergency stop wiring. In fact If you did something similar to me then the PWM board could just be a power MOSFET and some resistors and a diode. Of course i say it would be easy to build but that really all depends if you are comfortable fiddling around with electronics and more importantly mains electronics.

[txcowdog]

You are way ahead of me there. I am comfortable around 440v 3phase electricity but electronics are not my strength. Just knowing that the spindle is 100vdc puts me ahead of where I was. I have a 12vdc and 24 vdc power supply so that just leaves me with the PWM board. Even a diagram that you may have scribbled on a napkin would be a help.

Thanks for all the time you have put into this project. I actually got mine out this past weekend and put it up on the bench again and started taking the covers off so I could compare it to the pictures you have posted.

[binraker]

Controller sent me the manuals which have the circuit diagrams in. send your address to me at binraker[at]engineeringscotland[dot]com and I will forward them to you. In the mean time i have attached the diagram as seen in the manual. It is a bit convoluted but basically there is an astable 555 (half of a 556 to be pedantic) which triggers a monostable 555 which will stay on for a length of time determined by the voltage at the threshold input which is where you shove the 0-10V signal to set the speed. There is then some current feed back to ensure you don't frazzle anything but I'm not convinced it is required for a machine this small.

[jamesbdunn]

Has anyone seen a post-processor made for Bobcad to talk with Boxford equipment?

Does anyone have the G-codes related to the Boxford Machines?

I have working systems (lathe, mill, Duet) to include the computer, software, and cabling.

But I want to use Bobcad/cam software for generating the g-code. Anyone with any information?

James Dunn

[mactec54]

Hi txcowdog

Sales & service for Boxford in the USA is Andrew Manus Ph 704 855 1970
www.manus.biz

[txcowdog]

Hi Mactec,

Thanks for the heads up for Manus.biz I will check with them to see about the possibilities of upgrading the machines I have.

[xihan]

Originally Posted by binraker Mach 3 just crashes the win2k machine and now I am getting annoyed. There for, throwing all concept of sanity to the four winds of the wilderness, I have started writing new software in VB, built a new processor board, started outlining the functions of the firmware, written a new protocol for serial communication with the machine and finally thinking about the creation of a new language to replace the, hideously entropically inefficient, G-code. Watch this space.... P

binraker:
do you have some information regarding Foxford machine 300 vmc?
I really apprecciate any help.

[binraker]

sorry i haven't got any info on other machines.

if anyone is wondering how i am getting on whit the whole new software thing, I kinda got fed up of all the different ways of doing things in VB so the project got shelved and hasn't moved on much. various other projects have gotten in the way but its not totally dead. One day it will be finished.

[funkstar]

Hi
Old thread this, but nevertheless interesting.
I am thinking of buying a Duet but my main concern is if it is capable to machine aluminum with satisfying results and how about steel?
Perhaps you could share your experiences with this machine?

Thanks

P.-