Bridgeport series 1/Hurco MI-310???

[Siddhi69]

Hello everyone,
I have been reading for a while, but this is my first post. I have a couple of questions and we hoping this is the place to get some help. There is so much to learn and I really do not know the right questions to ask. So searching has came up empty for me.

I was recently given a Bridgeport Series 1 milling machine. It has a Hurco MI-310 three axis CNC and a Sargon DRO. I am new to the CNC world and I have only used a mill and lathe (manually) for making knives so my knowledge is not that extensive. So please bare with me.

I am trying to figure out if I can upgrade this machine, as part of the CNC side of is not working. The guy I got it from setup some toggle switches to move the table (other than manually). He said that some part (a circuit board I am guessing) burnt up so he removed it. I am guessing this is the controller for the CNC. Everything else seems to work other than not having any place I can find to hook up a computer to send codes to it. The stepper motors work fine if you use the toggle switches.

My questions are:

1. What are the componets needed to make a CNC a CNC? This way I can figure out what I do have and what I need.

2. Is this machine worth bringing back to life as a CNC? I mean the mill looks to be in very good shape and it was free. So any money I put into it will be what I have in it.

3. Can I upgrade the CNC side of it to something more modern? I only plan on using it for making knives and maybe some AR-15/AR-10 uppers and lowers.

Well I hope that all made sense. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-B

[ichudov]

I was in a similar situation. I bought a Bridgeport Series II Interact 2 mill in March. The "CNC side" was not working just like for you. It was too expensive to fix.

I gutted the control and retrofitted a PC based CNC control called "EMC2" (www.linuxcnc.org) and now the mill works great.

Click here:

http://igor.chudov.com/projects/Brid...ct-2-CNC-Mill/

[Siddhi69]

Thanks for the reply Ichudov! That is what I am thinking about. Just retrofitting everything. It seems like my cheapest route. I am checking out your link now.

I took the servo motors off last night to see what I had. I am wondering if I can get a controller to run them and then get software like emc2 or mach3 to run it.

The servo motors are Electro-craft part # 703-020-049. According to the manual I got with the mill they are 500oz/in 60vdc motors. I am not for sure as the label on the motors do not give any details other than customer # and part #.

[ichudov]

Originally Posted by Siddhi69 Thanks for the reply Ichudov! That is what I am thinking about. Just retrofitting everything. It seems like my cheapest route. I am checking out your link now. I took the servo motors off last night to see what I had. I am wondering if I can get a controller to run them and then get software like emc2 or mach3 to run it. The servo motors are Electro-craft part # 703-020-049. According to the manual I got with the mill they are 500oz/in 60vdc motors. I am not for sure as the label on the motors do not give any details other than customer # and part #.

What kind of encoders do you have?

How many amps max per motor?

Do you have a tachometer on the motors?

The drives for your motor that may work, are sold in ebay auction 140454932297, he will probably accept $30 per drive. (but double check everything before buying, especially the amp rating)

I used those drives myself and also installed new US Digital encoders on the existing servo motors.

[Siddhi69]

I am not sure of those answers. I plan to try and contact Electro-craft and see if they can give me some info on them.

In addition to the power wires on the motors there are 2 other smaller wires. I am guessing that this is for the enocoder or tach. There are also 2 other wires that come out where the power wires do and they go to a braket with what looks like some sort of measuring device. has like a sensor with a long threaded rod or the like. This might be for relaying postion of the table is what it seems like. So maybe that is for the enoder.

[ichudov]

Originally Posted by Siddhi69 I am not sure of those answers. I plan to try and contact Electro-craft and see if they can give me some info on them. In addition to the power wires on the motors there are 2 other smaller wires. I am guessing that this is for the enocoder or tach. There are also 2 other wires that come out where the power wires do and they go to a braket with what looks like some sort of measuring device. has like a sensor with a long threaded rod or the like. This might be for relaying postion of the table is what it seems like. So maybe that is for the enoder.

Take good pictures and you will get good answers. Call Electro-Craft too.

i

[Siddhi69]

will do! Thanks for the information and the quick replies! I will update as I get more information.

[ichudov]

How good are you at troubleshooting in general?

Are you known for being able to figure out what is wrong with stuff that does not work?

Also how well do you know electricity (volts, amps, capacitors etc)?

And finally, how good are you with computers?

[Siddhi69]

Well I am basically a jack of all trades (or so they tell me). I am a certified aircraft mechanic (A&P), I have been working as a Network engineer (MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+) for that last 17 years. So I know computers very very well. I am also a certified Level 3 BMW mechanic (motorcycles).

I am very comfortable that I can troubleshoot and figure this project out with a little help. The amount of information I have read so far has kept me busy for about a week now. I think my biggest task up to this point was figuring out the terminology so I could know what to ask.

I hope that helps.

[ichudov]

Originally Posted by Siddhi69 Well I am basically a jack of all trades (or so they tell me). I am a certified aircraft mechanic (A&P), I have been working as a Network engineer (MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+) for that last 17 years. So I know computers very very well. I am also a certified Level 3 BMW mechanic (motorcycles). I am very comfortable that I can troubleshoot and figure this project out with a little help. The amount of information I have read so far has kept me busy for about a week now. I think my biggest task up to this point was figuring out the terminology so I could know what to ask. I hope that helps.

Then I would say you will be successful. When I bought my Bridgeport CNC mill, I knew nothing about CNC or retrofits. And after a while it all worked well.

[Siddhi69]

Thanks that is refreshing to know!

[Siddhi69]

Update: I am still waiting on an answer. I have calls out to Hurco and Electro-craft. I will update when I have more.
Thanks!