Looking for info and advice

[LordThrash]

Hi, Ive been tracking down a bridgeport mill for my shop. Plan on going 3 axis CNC with mach3, geko drives, breakout board servo setup.

Can anybody tell me about this machine I have found?



As far as I know this is a working CNC machine but the tape player missing. I would gut the electronics right immediately.

Here are some questions for the more knowledgeble here:
I would like to know what this kind of head this bridgeport is called?
Any idea on year made?
Anything that would make it a deal breaker?

I would also love to hear suggestions for a Breakout board. I want to stay away from parallel ports.

Im not a total noob to CNC. I have a Xylotex board powering a taig micro mill with Mach3, but Im ready to step up to some big iron.

-Rob from Southern California

[jalessi]

Rob,

It looks like a Boss 5.

Jeff...

[LordThrash]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think it was a Boss because its not square in the front. Glad to have the info and I will research this one a bit more.

[txcncman]

I do not think Bridgeport used Boss as a model designation for machines. I think Boss was their software/operating system. This looks like a Bridgeport CNC II to me. But, memory is aging, so take it for what it is worth.

[gus]

ooooold boss machine

I would not pay real money for it and would hold out for something a little newer with rigid ram

[jalessi]

Rob,

Here is one running:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFsGslF0qGA&feature=relmfu]Bridgeport Series 1 BOSS 5 CNC 3D Test - YouTube


Jeff...

[txcncman]

As noted in the video title, this is NOT a Boss. "Bridgeport Series 1 BOSS 5 CNC". It is a Series 1 with a Boss 5 control. It was probably possible that same year to purchase a Series 2 with a Boss 5 control. Calling it a Boss, especially when dealing with the hardware side is going to cause you problems.

If you are planning to retrofit with new servos and all, then this would probably be a good machine for you. If you are going to stick with the original steppers, then I would advise you to walk away now and spend your money on something else.

[jalessi]

As noted in the video title, this is NOT a Boss. "Bridgeport Series 1 BOSS 5 CNC". It is a Series 1 with a Boss 5 control. It was probably possible that same year to purchase a Series 2 with a Boss 5 control. Calling it a Boss, especially when dealing with the hardware side is going to cause you problems.

If you are planning to retrofit with new servos and all, then this would probably be a good machine for you. If you are going to stick with the original steppers, then I would advise you to walk away now and spend you money on something else.

I agree, it is a Series I Boss 5, attached is a picture of a Series II for future reference.

Sorry for the incomplete answer in my first post,


Jeff...

[LordThrash]

Good info everybody. Thanks

I have another question about my series 1 with boss 5 controls. The head Tilts on this model, but in my research I see there are far more with fixed square column heads. Is this a drawback or an advantage? Does that make it less or more "valuable"?

[txcncman]

Not that much more valuable because the chances of you wanting to tilt the head for any machining is rare. Because of the nature of modern CNC and tooling, most angled faces can be handled with the normal 3 axis or as part of set up. Tilting the head and getting proper alignment can be time consuming.

[HawkJET]

Hi, Ive been tracking down a bridgeport mill for my shop. Plan on going 3 axis CNC with mach3, geko drives, breakout board servo setup.

I recommend getting going with the minimum of effort and expenditure. You say the machine still works, so all you need is Mach3, a Hillbilly B.O.B., and a computer. You can use the existing drivers and motors.

Changing the machine from steppers to servos is a royal PITA! You will need to make adapters for the motor mounts and figure out how to get the timing belt pulleys to fit on the shafts. The original motors are 5/8" shafts and are longer than most. You will have a real challenge finding a way to reliably extent the shafts of any motor you end up with.

If you are dead set on a servo system, you should get a machine already set up that way. The later BOSS machines had servos. Otherwise, use the steppers to get going and you'll likely never go to servos. Steppers work just fine!

[LordThrash]

Thanks for the info.

I think I will buy this Bridgeport. The price is right for me and it sounds like it has potential.

I just decided I will not retrofit with new controls and reuse the steppers. I'm not fan of steppers. My Taig screwed up a nice piece of metal last night because of lost steps. I will keep the boss controls until I can make enough parts for the retrofit to servos.

I was thinking of getting the 3 axis servo kit from www.kelinginc.comr for my Taig and if it works well get its bigger brother for a knee mill.