- Joined
- Nov 8, 2013
- Messages
- 33
I am 87 years old, and do not have the energy to get started or to get proficient with CNC programing. Nor do I make multiple parts. I try to fix car, tractor, lawn mower, Dobro guitar, and firearm parts one at a time. So, I want knobs and hand cranks, not CNC. But - I do have a real tight Bridgeport Boss series 1 - 5 (?), chromed ways, with perfect Bijor oiler, with perfect 48" table, 2 hp three phase, series 1 CNC, that is equipped with what everybody calls "obsolete CNC electronics." I want to go back in time and work this CNC's X and Y axis with hand wheels, and then find some simple device to run the Z axis with electronics or whatever. As a parts supply, I have a disassembled, nearly dead, really old Bridgeport type one, that someone adapted a 110 vac motor using a thick aluminum plate. So the questions are: Any chance the CNC table's lead screw "into its stepper motor transmission," can accept the handwheels and brackets from the old Bridgeport? And two: Is there a simple device to make the spindle (Z axis) go up and down electrically - I imagine it would take a computer to create the stepper driver pulse with some programing. I don't want all that mystery stuff. I want a two way switch hooked to something - to just make the Z stepper go up and down at a controlled rate. And as a third plan, I could just swap the whole head and use my antique Bridgeport, full knuckle head (which would gain me the ability to tilt every which way, and then try to adapt the CNC's three phase motor to replace my puny 110 VAC motor that currently lives on the old Bridgeport vertical mill (because the CNC has 220 VAC three phase, two horse power and I do have 3 phase power in my shop). Swapping to the old type 1 head, using that big diameter four bolt connection to the base, would include another mounting position available, you just loosen four bolts and spin the head mount 180 degrees. Intriguing as one could mount a second head with maybe that Bridgeport shaper option (?). Any ideas out there?
