Have Boss 9 with less than 200 total hrs. Looking for retrofit.

[lilb93]

I got a boss 9 from the local school district auction . It was still crated and never used. I have about 200 hrs on it playing with it for the last year. I do not know G-code. Looking for a retrofit?? Has anyone had good luck with one brand over another. Was looking at Centroid control will cost about 10 grand. it has all the bells and such. Just looking for any feedback . Thanks John

[Jim Bass]

Hi John,

Seems like you need a CAM program more than a retrofit. A CAM program will generate G-code for the BOSS nine control and should be cheaper than 10 grand. Check your local tech school for training in CAM programing. The CAM program will not care that you have a BOSS nine, just use the proper post and you will be able to crank out some really neat parts with that machine.

Yours, Jim

[gus]

yea, the boss nine was actually half decent IIRC, servos etc

[lilb93]

It is a real nice machine, I am up in the air as to retrofit or just sell and buy a new one that is easy to program. Looked at mastercam and it is big bucks. So is Gibbscam. Centroid is only 1 hr. from me. I has seen there system work in another shop and it is real easy to use. I love the tool setter and touch off probe. Looked at haas and there price is above me. I can put 10G in a retrofit or 22G for something new, Have not found anything that is in the new ballpark money wise. John

[colin1544]

Hi dont no what the price diferrence over there is but thought the Ajax kit system was cheaper as it is a Centroid in kit form buy what you need to suit the upgrade that you need and if the boss 9 has servo motors that brings the cot even cheaper. Cheers Colin 1544

[lilb93]

I checked with centroid the price is about 14,500.00 the cost at AJAX is 9000.00. ajax and centroid are almost next door to each other in the middle of Pa. I might wait to go to EASTECH in May and maybe get a deal on a floor machine and just bring it home with me. John

[jdelaney44]

Don't you just need a G-Code generator? Visual Mill is one. Dolphin is another. I hear good things about both. Each is under $2K. Each generates G-Code from CAD. I think Dolphin is 2.5D. Visual mill does conversions from 3D solid drawings. Turbo CAD has a package too. But I've not heard a lot about it. If you go to the Sherline site there are some free tools in this department.

Also check out the DIY_CNC and / or CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO gorups at Yahoo groups.

There are also several people retrofitting the drive controller using the PC based program Mach 3 with stepper and / or servo drives from Rutex and / or Gecko.

But that's all time intensive. If you have the cash, maybe buying it makes sense.

Hope that helps.

-jd

[machintek]

If I may put in my 2 cents. The EZTRAK software was available very reasonably as a stand alone to run on a PC. It was conversational, just like the machine but it could output a program as either conversation for the EZTRAK OR as G & M code, just perfect for the BOSS9. Just giving you a practical solution that is cheap. If the BOSS 9 control itself ever gets hit by lightning, then go ahead and retrofit it. BTW make sure it has the fan in the side door upgrade. It was a factory retrofit to deal with inadequate cooling issues.

George

[lilb93]

Thanks for all the ideas, When I got the machine there was two new ones, One was damaged while it was off loaded they dropped it off the forklift and broke the casting where the motor connects. They would not sell it, but the did give me all the boards from it so I have a complete set of boards if this one ever goes down. I am looking at a new machine center, Might just sell the bridgeport and get a new one. Thanks John