BOSS retro w/Mach2 results:

[jderou]

Well I finally have the old Boss running off of Mach 2 with the original steppers and drivers. I don't have all the limits hooked up yet, but I made a part on it last night and its 100X better than using the boss interface. Highly recommended! It was actually enjoyable to use, every other time I used it I ended up ticked off at the thing.

Other than making the opto-isolated board it really isn't difficult, and I probably have $100 max invested in everything (excluding the free 500mhz computer).

[damae]

Originally Posted by jderou ...and I probably have $100 max invested in everything (excluding the free 500mhz computer).

Wow, I'm impressed! I just started a thread asking how well these machines work when using the original steppers for a retrofit.

How did you do it for $100? I figure the cost of 3 gecko drives to be about $400, minimum. Did you find a way to use the BOSS stepper boards to drive the steppers? If so, I'm very interested in hearing how you did it!

[jderou]

Yes, the K8 plug on the XDI (i think) board accepts quadrature signals. This plug is basically what runs straight to the stepper drivers. If you check the MaxNC mode in Mach 2 it will output quadrature signals. the only thing that required any money/time was creating the opto-isolating board that sits between the PC parallel port and the Mill. Oh and with that $100 I have a bunch of extra copper clad boards, components, etc. If I had to do it again I could probably do it for ~$40.

[jderou]

Here are some links:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12066

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7943

[testertom]

I have a Boss but don't know if it is a 4.0 or 5.0. Does anyone know if the 4.0 does linear and /or circular interpolation from the MDI? Can any Boss be upgraded to the Mach2? I've tried to contact them but never can get through.

[jderou]

More than likely you could run yours off Mach 2, but getting it there is a very thought involved process. Definitely not plug and play.

[creep_pea]

Hi agian

Is it possible to connect to a PC using one of the breakout boards currently for sale instead of making the breakout board as described. By connect I mean connect my BOSS using the original drivers to a PC running Mach3 using the MaxNC mode.

I'm to busy or maybe lazy to make my own, he he.

Thanks

Chris

[mikburts]

I have read with interest about your Boss project. I have a Bridgeport Boss 6. The machine runs fine but has a bad ERS board. As result I can't communicate.
I can use MDI or punch in the program at the machine but this is aggreviating. As I understand you are creating a g-code, using Mach 2 to create step and direction pulses. Then you have a connection thru a isolation board to the driver board on the Bridgeport. Will you share wiring specifics and configuration. What kind of isolation board works best.
Does anyone have a ERS board for a Boss 6? With a good board I can communicate with Hyperterminal.

I am Mike Burts in Anderson SC 864-224-7826
E-mail mikburts@juno.com

[jderou]

I'm not sure about which ready-made isolation board will work best, but I will give any help I can. I do have the ERS board from my Boss 5, not sure if its the same.

[mikburts]

jderou
Can you give me the model number on your old ers board?

Mike Burts

[mikburts]

You said you had some extra boards and etc. for the isolation board, if so how much and can you give me a brief description of what you did on this conversion.
It appears to me you came from a parrell port to the isolation board. From this board you go to the XDI board. Is it that simple?

Mike Burts

[craig96us]

Hi Mikburts--

I still have the old Boss 6 cage and boards left over from my Series 2 Boss 6 retrofit. All of my original borads were working fine when I removed the Boss 6 controls. Send me an email if you are interested. I also have good power supplies etc. Send me an email if you are interested. email to stevesys@snet.net

/Craig.