Need Clarification on V2XT machine specs

[ss_again]

Hey all, I'm looking to purchase a V2XT machine for home use and I've been reading up on them but I have a few questions about these machines that I just can figure out and was hoping someone can straighten me out.

1) If the Machine has a DX-32 control, is it correct to assume the machine has a 486 motherboard with a BMDC board as opposed to a 286 and a FMDC board?

2) Does anyone know what year they switched from FMDC to BMDC boards? I've seen someone say their v2xt had a FMDC board and it was a 1994 and others say their original v2xt had BMDC and theirs was a 1993.

3) If a machine has a 486 motherboard and is DX-32 controlled but has a floppy drive, can a hard disk be easily installed like it could be in a regular desktop computer and then change the boot disk in the CMOS to boot from the hard disk instead?

4) I've noticed that on the side of some of the machines it reads "Bridgeport" on the label and on others it reads "Bridgeport V2XT". Does anyone know which years they changed this? It seems like I've seen it differently for the same year machines.

5) Lastly, Do all these machines need to be hooked up to a compressed air source or do some have their own compressors within?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

[KTD1]

Hello,

I still use a V2-XT machine that I purchased new 1993. It’s been a fantastic machine. I like the DX32 controller and my 760/22 has one as well. I’m by no means an expert but will try to answer your questions.

1) No, my 1992 machine has a 386 processor and the 1998 machine has a 486

2) Not sure. I think both my machines have BMDC.

3) Both my machines have a floppy drive for file transfer but run off internal hard drives with DOS 6.2 for the operating system. Some machines had the Windows 3.11 option installed. I quit using floppy disks a long time ago and transfer files with an external Zip 100 drive via LPT port. I can also drip feed large programs from the Zip drive.

4) I have no idea. Best way to determine age would be off serial numbers. Mine have date of manufacture on the outside of controller box.

5) The machine requires compressed air from a external source. The machine will alarm without it. The air is required for spindle brake and to adjust spindle RPM.

Let me know if there is anything else I might be able to help with.

Max

[ss_again]

Thanks Max for the info. That helps clear a few things up. Let me ask, how do you transfer files back an forth to the machine via LPT port? Are there any free file transfer programs out there that can talk to the machine? Also, are the programs just plain ASCII .txt files?

[KTD1]

The files are plain txt files and are usually stored on the machine’s hard drive. Notepad works fine as an editor. When you are ready to run a program you "load" it onto the machine controller from the hard drive. It’s as simple as F7 from the basic menu screen and cursor down to the program you wish to run. If you have a large (>500kb) file, the machine can be drip fed from the hard drive by selecting DNC mode.

To get programs from my CAD system to the machine I copy it to a Zip disk, carry the disk out to the machine and then copy it to the hard drive on the machine. (Using an Iomega Zip Drive connected to machine’s LPT1) You can still find LPT zip drives on ebay for only a few bucks. Let me know if you need the DOS driver, I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.

I know the machine has the ability to do serial communications through the LPT port however, my machines are located a ways from the CAD system. Serial communications cables don’t do well over about 20 feet in length, or so I am told. There are freeware programs on the web. I’ve used them on my Fanuc 16M controller but would use Zip Drives there if I could. Just a lot less foot steps and can do multiple files at same time.

The machine's software also has an editor built in. It has your basic cut, copy, & paste commands as well as find and change. If I want to tweak something like federates, I do it right at the machine. You can also write and edit programs while the machine is executing a different one.

If you are savvy with G code it’s pretty easy to write rather complex 2D or 3D programs right at the machine from scratch. The software has a built in preview that will show feed moves as a solid line and rapids as a dashed. You only see the toolpaths but it’s enough to get the idea of what’s going to happen.

There are several powerful canned cycles in the DX-32 that I use on a regular basis. These controllers handle parametric programs quite well too. I have used them extensively to machine things like spherical pockets or pyramid shaped cores. It can work formulas with trig or logic if want.

[ss_again]

Thanks again Max. That's great info. I haven't received my V2XT yet but it will be shipped next week. In the mean time I'm preparing for it (wiring and plumbing). I'm excited to play around with it. This machine is for my home shop but I have a few friends looking for light machine work that will keep me busy. Back when I worked in a machine shop (through high school and college), I was given the opportunity to work on a lot of machines but mainly BP's (R2e3, R2e4, Series I Boss 5) It was great experience but the setting-up was already done. As a matter of fact, I've even used a teletype. Are they still around?
Thanks again for the info