Boxford TCL 125

[Woodon]

Hi all

Does anyone know how to upgrade a Boxford TCL 125 running on old BBC computer to PC driven? Any help or spec would be helpful. The reason for the change is that I have no software to run the lathe which is very frustrating!!!



Michael

[suffolkclocks]

Does the machine work in manual?. If so I have the circuit diagram. It's 1 large sheet but could scan in areas and let you have them. With a working machine and the circuit diagram. Mach3 lathe software should drive the machine. I have a Boxford tcl 125 but the wiring has burnt out. This is my next project after just completing a refit on a Dynamite DM2400 mill

[suffolkclocks]

Hi again.
Just had a look at the circuit diagram.
Here are the pinouts on the microprocessor board
1 ov

4 analog out (motor spped control 0.1 - 8volts)
5 forward spindle
6 reverse spindle
7 X Direction
8 X clock
9 Z Direction
10 Z Clock
if you remove these wires and connect them to your printer port (for sfety sake connect via opto isolators) they should drive the lathe.
Many circuits are available online for pc parallel port connection via opto's

good luck Ray
machine

[rjn3040]

hi
I can let you have a copy of software to run on a pc (some thing like an old 386 or 486 works well. it also runs in win 98
richard

[Woodon]

Originally Posted by suffolkclocks Does the machine work in manual?. If so I have the circuit diagram. It's 1 large sheet but could scan in areas and let you have them. With a working machine and the circuit diagram. Mach3 lathe software should drive the machine. I have a Boxford tcl 125 but the wiring has burnt out. This is my next project after just completing a refit on a Dynamite DM2400 mill

Hi
It works in manual without a computer connected. I would be very interested with anything you could help me with.



Michael

[Woodon]

Originally Posted by rjn3040 hi I can let you have a copy of software to run on a pc (some thing like an old 386 or 486 works well. it also runs in win 98 richard

Hi

That would be much appreciated Thank you



Michael

[Scooby]

The boxford uses 2 differant types of circuit board, one will connect straight into the pc and the other will need rewireing and extra bits added.

I have one that ran on the archameedies (spelling) and beleive it has the boards that can be simply rewired to go into a pc, i dont know the differances im afraid.

These machines regulary pop up at palces around the UK very cheap with very little wear as they were made as a training machine for schools and collages, mine runs in manual but theres no decent control to use it properly, i was planning to use a differant set of boards and get it working that way until i was told about the direct wire part,

On my other pc i have scans of the wireing diagrams and also contact details for someone who knows these machines and how to modify them, ill sort the stuff out and host then ill provide the links on here.

They are a very light machie with small work contrictions but if working can be used for all those small parts you want to make, personally i would prefer one of the small teaching millers if anyone fancies a swap?

[Woodon]

Thanks for that, I'll look forward to the links.

Cheers

Michael

[Controller]

Hi I'am thinking of buying a Boxford TCL 125 but want to talk to the boxford with RS232, I'm experianced in electronics and I can program PIC devices, but need to know the connections to the boxford processor ie I need a circuit diagram I would be willing to share the design if I buy the Boxford but need to know the complications involved first as I have limited time available. also any knowledge of the command set would be useful.

[colin1544]

Originally Posted by suffolkclocks Hi again. Just had a look at the circuit diagram. Here are the pinouts on the microprocessor board 1 ov 4 analog out (motor spped control 0.1 - 8volts) 5 forward spindle 6 reverse spindle 7 X Direction 8 X clock 9 Z Direction 10 Z Clock if you remove these wires and connect them to your printer port (for sfety sake connect via opto isolators) they should drive the lathe. Many circuits are available online for pc parallel port connection via opto's good luck Ray machine

Hello I wonder if you can help me the board you quote is this the board that connects to 1 Meg bus cable that came fromm the BBC Plug which on the board refers as plug PL3 which then goes down to the drive control board if so would it be possible to give me a ring on 0115 9389014 (Nottingham) as it might help to have a talk about it to make sure, also I have a complete spare processor board and control board if this is any help.
Cheers for now Colin.

[paul s]

hi i hav just aquired a boxford tcl 125 training lathe i have no experiance of cnc lathes although i have programmed cnc lasers for 10 years so i got this as a training thing for myself as i already have a manual lathe.

i have not got any sort of controler with the lathe i see people say they have used 386 pc's 486pc's and bbc computers as well as windows 98.

i have no idea what to use. im told it was run with a 386pc

can anyone help? is there an operating package for this machine? do i need an input/output (i/o) card? how is the pc linked to the lathe????

as you can see im a bit of a novice here and i got no instructions with the machine

many thanks Paul

[x3UK]

Picked one up cheap, but without software. Have serial cable but what is the pinout? or more critical the format of the (G-Code)file?