Build Thread- Which driver for Bridgeport Series 1 CNC

[TarHeelTom]

Am just starting to yank the guts out of a Bridgeport Series 1 CNC machine. Still got the BOSS 5.x stuff in it.

Intend to keep the stock steppers on it for now, maybe forever. What stepper drivers do you guys like for this application?

Second question. Maybe this is too ambitious, but I'd like to keep the original control panel, which is mounted on the side cabinet. This will mean trying to bring all the button etc functions into the computer, and generating outputs to drive all the led and number segments, etc, on the control panel. Has anyone done this before? Any guidance in this direction?

Thanks

Tom

[polaraligned]

Gecko's will drive the original steppers. They are potential problems though. I would swap out new steppers which are relatively cheap. Get rid of the original control pendant...The first one here is mine mounted on the original series 1 arm that you can see at the left. I mounted everything in a steel cabinet from Automation Direct.

http://www.thewarfields.com/cnccookbook/MTCNCPanels.htm

[TarHeelTom]

Just started removing all of the computer bits and pieces from a Series 1 CNC machine... It all appeared to be working when I bought the machine, but my shop only has single phase, so it's all got to go.

Does anyone need any of these bits and pieces? It's all coming out, and will be priced right. If you have a need for any thing from the computer case, let me know soon.

Tom