PC to BOSS 5 Communication?

[Eric]

Does anyone have a procedure for how I can get my PC to talk to the BOSS 5 via the RS232 serial port? I want to up load a sample program to the machine, but I am not getting the "BOSS > " prompt on my PC monitor when hooked up to the serial port.

I am running Windows 3.1 on a 486-66 and I downloaded teraterm to try to communicate with the BOSS. I have the ERS card set to 2400 dip switches 4 and 8 on, all others off. I have my PC set up with 2400 Baud, 8,1,NONE, Xon,Xoff. I have a cable plugged into the com port and the other end is plugged into the "local" port on the outside of the control box in pins 6, 7, 8.

I power up the machine, flip the reset switch above the tape reader, switch to set-up, switch to edit and press the button. Nothing happens or prompts me on the PC. What else do I need to do or what am I missing?

Maybe teratrem is not working and I should try the Windows Treminal program. Is there an easy way to verify that the com port is working?

Thanks.

[creep_pea]

I use to use window hyperterminal but that was in windows 98, not sure if it is in windows 3.1.

Try the baud rate a little lower mine struggled at that rate.

Your not trying to use the LTP (printer port) are you? I did this and it doesn't work at all you have to use one of the COM ports, I use one of the DB9 ports COM 3 I think.

Hope that helps

Chris

[machintek]

I use a old DOS version of PROCOMM to talk to the old BOSS machines, Fanucs and Heidenhains. I also have a Bridgeport tech bulletin that I can email you about the communications to a BOSS 5. Need your email address.

George

[Eric]

I am using the com ports, but maybe I should open up the PC to make sure they are hooked up inside since this thing has been sitting for 10+ years.

George.....please send me the tech bulletin at cvd_dude@yahoo.com

I think I may have an old copy of ProComm on disk somewhere.

Thanks.

[lookinfor]

i can help if you still need it send me your email
thanks Van

[Eric]

I finally got it to work today. I jumpered pins 1 to 4 to 6 to 8 on my PC's serial connector per the Bridgeport tech bulletin #3. I set the baud rate on the ERS card to 110 (all dip switches off). Then I opened up Windows Terminal and played with the settings until I was about to give up. Then for some reason I decided to jog the x-axis so I hit the limit override button..........Hmmm, what if I hit the "EDIT" button......BAM....."BOSS 5.0" showed up on the PC's monitor. Doh!!! All I had to do was to push the limit override button first.

George...thanks for the tech bulletins. They really helped understand what to do after I got the "BOSS 5.0" prompt.

Does anyone have a copy of the M-128 operator's manual that tells about the editor and how to use it?

[lookinfor]

Eric
can you tell me how you did this with windows terminal?
baud rate? cable config? i'm using ez-utils?
always be alert about the limit overide when you first power up. sometimes my light doesn't come on.
and you'll scratch your head wondering why it isn't working.
and don't forget your bijur oil pump.
if it gets low on oil the spindle will not turn on.
i have m129 and m130.
i'll look at another place for m128.

[cncboss6]

Hello everyone, does anybody have an old Bridgeport Textron dnc loader laying around that they would like to sell. I have one now, but it does not seam to work on my boss 6. Or does anybody repair these to working condition. Thanks, Pat

[lookinfor]

Have you looked at hillbilly's breakout board to run your controls directly from a pc. and use mach 3 software to control it. for less than $250 ... cost of the board and software

[Kevin Taylor]

CNC Boss6 I'v got two Greco mini files I have seen one like the stand alone one on ebay that had bridgeport's logo on it , I also have a rack mount that goes in place of the tape reader They take 3.5 disk's but of the early capcity I takled to greco about updating to the new disk and they said that was doable Let me know if you are interisted ktaylor253@earthlink.net Kevin