Bridgeport Series 1 BOSS 5 w/ EZCAM V6

[bearanddragon]

Ok I'm new here,
Just recently picked up an old series 1 w/ BOSS 5. Came with an old computer running windows 3.1 and loaded with EZCAM V6. I'm working on finding a manual for the EZCAM software but I'm having a little trouble. We are putting the machine in our hangar out at the airport and unfortunately we are only running single phase. Can anyone recommend a good phase converter for the machine or should I just build my own?
Should I just keep the EZCAM software and run it w/ that or should I upgrade to the Hillbilly BOB board and MACH 3 software? Any thoughts and input would be great.

Overall the mill is in great condition, is very tight, and has been well taken care of over the years. Some of the parts for NASA's mars lander was made on this machine. I'm pretty excited to get it up and running.

Thanks guys.

[keebler303]

I would just buy a phase converter from craigslist. You can normally find a good price on a 5-10 HP one around here.

If there is a user base for the EZCAM and it works for you, I'd say keep it. Does it send a program to the BOSS control and then it runs on the machine? If so I am pretty sure the BOSS control can't handle full 3D simultaneous motion. Obviously mach3 can and there are thousands of folks using mach3 and dozens using the hillbilly board with mach3, including myself.

Also it looks like Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters there behind the mill.

Matt

[bearanddragon]

Good call on the Myth Busters spotting. It's my brother, I'll have to give him crap about that now.

Thanks for the response. I knew the machinist that ran the mill and have seen it in action. The computer was set up in his office and he did in fact send cad files to the mill to run. I'd like to keep the stepper motors for now but I will definitely need to do simultaneous 3D stuff since I will be using it to make small molds.

[subiawan noer]

I have a problem of bridgeport series II. Where can I get spare parts where ...? thank before

[keebler303]

The computer is most likely sending a G-code file to the machine.

You can use the hillbilly board and mach3 with the original stepper drives and motors. That's how my machine is setup along with several others here.

Matt

[bearanddragon]

I think that's the route I'm going to go. Where do I get the hillbilly BOB and can I import my solidworks files into MACH 3? Is a rotary phase converter the best route?

Thanks for all your help.

[keebler303]

The guys name is Darek. His handle is hillbilly here on the site, that's where the "Hillbilly Board" moniker came from. His website is here: Ashburn Industrial Repair

He gives you all the instructions you need to hack into the wiring and hook everything up. It can be done in a couple hours for an adept technician.

I have no experience with static phase converters. I have run my machine off of an Arco Standard 25HP Rotary converter for several years without incident. ARCO Electric Products - Standard Duty Roto-Phase I

Sometimes you have to be careful about how you connect the converter because of the "wild" leg of power. I did not do anything special and I have not had any problems. You can also spend more money and get a "phase-perfect" or "CNC" phase converter which is wound to give you the same quality of 3 phase you would get from the power company. I'm o expert but there is a phase converter forum here where others can help there.

Matt

[bearanddragon]

Thanks Matt!

I'll be looking for a 5hp rotary phase converter and I've contacted Darek regarding the purchase of his hillbilly BOB.

I'll keep updating this thread w/ my progress and any other questions I may have.

[jmullett]

Years ago when I was working out of my garage I bought a 10 hp static phase converter and connected an unloaded old used 10 hp motor that I got for a good deal. I would flip the breaker on it on prior to using my 3 Hp Bridgeport mill and 5 Hp metal lathe. The unloaded motor provided a little cushion when staring and stopping the spindle especally when tapping (without a tapping head) on the mill. I was ablt to run both machines simultaneously. You would probably want to try to keep the gernerated leg out of the electronics though.

I think thats the same set-up in what they sell as a rotary phase converter. Just that the supplier provides the static converter and the idle motor as a package deal.

You can also get a Variable Frequency Drive that will take a single phase input and generate the three phase for the 2 hp spindle and get the bonus of an electronic variable speed control of the spindle. You would still have to look at the servo/stepper electronics and make sure that it only requires single phase input. It may require some wiring changes to get it working on a single phase input.

[keebler303]

As I recall, each axis (X,Y,Z) uses one phase of the incoming power. SO long as everything is connected phase to phase, you should be fine. Anything connected phase to neutral needs to NOT be connected to the "wild leg" My bridgeport does not have a neutral wire so I think the machine does not care. You could indeed put all the drives on the same phase and then you would need 3 phase only for the spindle motor. A VFD would give you the ability to control the speed electronically but doing all these mods would take a lot more effort and some extra hardware. I ran my mill boht on the original control and now on the converter and as I said, no problems!

Matt