BPT series 1 MDI HEIDENHAIN TNC 131

[Chad Pickens]

I'm new to the board so HELLO everyone. This seems to be the place to find info on CNC machines! This will be for my own use in my home shop I have a chance to buy a Bridgeport mill cheap but I cant find out much about this model other than that there weren't many of them.It is a series 1 MDI with HEIDENHAIN TNC 131. Is this going to be a problem to get parts for and can it be upgraded reasonably or is it better to buy another model all together.Any help would be appreciated

[machintek]

I believe I installed a couple of these in the early 80's.
MDI control means to go to a point and store it, on to the next point, etc to make a program. Cannot tell you more than that. Hardware is generic Bridgeport. Motors are SEM thus still serviced. Control is obsolete. Not ever considered a true CNC thus the limited sales.
Probably low hours (for a reason) thus good hardware/platform for a retrofit.

George

[Chad Pickens]

Thanks for the reply.Lets say its in good condition what would be a fair price ?

[Kevin77]

I'd say around $1000 is reasonable,maybe $1500 if its in mechanically very good shape.

Kevin

[Chad Pickens]

Does anyone know if this machine can be used manually.That is without the tnc131

[sbalder]

If you are at all inclined from many of the projects on this board you may want to retrofit this machine. New drives (Gecko 320, $350 total), computer (free for most people), mach or turbocnc software (free download, $$ to register), power supply (free from the guts of the machine), Hitachi VFD to run the spindle on single phase 220 ($225), and about $200 of wire, switches and misc. parts and you can wind up with a nice machine in your home shop. Good luck!

[gus]

it appears that it has handles, but probably no dials, not really meant for that