Boxfords Again

[Kenworth18]

Hi All,
I`ve recently purchased a pair of Boxford machining centres, a 165HMC and a 190VMC, and need assistance.The 165 is dead to the world apart from the carousel can jog ( safety interlock problem ?) and I really need a manual ( copy of? ) and schematic to help sort it out.A schematic for the 190 would also be appreciated.Anyone else own or have experience of the 165HMC as I understand that they weren`t produced in any great quantities? Both run from BBC computers at the moment but the plan is to upgrade to a PC and Mach3 software in the near future, after I`ve had a play!

[BOXFORDCNCMAN]

Hi,

I came accross this post and so registered on this forum. If there is anyone out there who needs help with any of the old BBC driven Boxford CNC machines I can probably help, Manuals, Software, Controls etc. Specialist in the following:

BOXFORD 125TCL
BOXFORD 160TCL
BOXFORD 240TCL
BOXFORD 165HMC
BOXFORD 190VMC
BOXFORD 260VMC

GEC GEMINI DC Control

BRADFORD INSTRUMENTS 3 Axis Control

PARKER DIGIPLAN SD3 Stepper Control

Please get in touch if you need help with any of the above..

www.boxford-retro-cnc.co.uk

Cheers!

Andy

[battwell]

do you have any schematics of gemini dc control?
i have converted my 125 to mach. dc controller a bit slow to respoond!

[BOXFORDCNCMAN]

Unfortunately not, Boxford didn't even have one. There is a "ramp" trimmer on the Gemini that should give you a degree of control to resolve this issue, have you tried it ?

Regards


Andy

[george8013]

r

Originally Posted by BOXFORDCNCMAN Hi, I came accross this post and so registered on this forum. If there is anyone out there who needs help with any of the old BBC driven Boxford CNC machines I can probably help, Manuals, Software, Controls etc. Specialist in the following: BOXFORD 125TCL BOXFORD 160TCL BOXFORD 240TCL BOXFORD 165HMC BOXFORD 190VMC BOXFORD 260VMC GEC GEMINI DC Control BRADFORD INSTRUMENTS 3 Axis Control PARKER DIGIPLAN SD3 Stepper Control Please get in touch if you need help with any of the above.. www.boxford-retro-cnc.co.uk Cheers! Andy

Hi Andy I`ve just picked up 190vmc but without it`s bbc or any software,can you supply any info/software for this model.regards George

[BOXFORDCNCMAN]

Hi George,

Are you sure your 190VMC is set up for control via a BBC? not many were.

If it is, it will have a blue 34 way ribbon connector cable for connection to the BBC 1Mhz Bus.

I can supply all the hardware and software to get this machine going.

drop me a mail at:

info@boxford-retro-cnc.co.uk

Cheers!

Andy

[x3UK]

Andy,
Have you either a pinout of the control/ribbon cable from the bradford control board to the membrane panel/LEDS or full circuit diagram please

Regards Peter

[SimonD]

Peter,

What machine do you have, I may be able to help with the schematic...

I need some info on the Gemini drive, if you have it. I need to know what pin 9 is connected to, I think it is an "enable" line but have no idea what to connect it to.

Thanks
Simon

[JohnViejo]

Hello Andy,
I'm looking at a Boxford 190VMC that is going off sale by 6 pm GMT tomorrow.
No tooling; no computer; works manually, needs a bit of a cleanup. I see the company is still around. I'm wondering what I would need to have to get the machine fully operational. I've a computer, Mach3 software, Mach3 board, power supply, and drivers.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, such as what would I expect to pay for such a machine, keeping in mind the work to be done on it?
Thank you very much for your time and response,
John

[MIKE CHADWICK]

Hi In Uk most people swop the controllers for a 3-4 axis vi a guy called alex at www.eaziform.co.uk he does a far better stepper motor controller (micro type works with boxford stepper motors plus a proper cad cam program I had same problem as Boxford only sell to Colleges and universities and are no help with software Mike we want to use use as a mini cnc miller for making mototrcycle spares- in UK-

[JohnViejo]

Hello Mike, Thanks, I appreciate your insight -- that machine went through the auction and off to a new home. I've just this past week brought a large knee mill with Centroid controls into my shop. There's a problem with the X-axis encoder, apparently, and the Centroid people have been most helpful in sorting this out.