Originally Posted by
pfeist
A friend of mine has acquired a Bridgeport Series II, R2E4 BOSS 8 mill... with a few issues (one axis won't home, another is flaky).
He's been contemplating an expensive retrofit kit ($5k+), but we've been thinking there has to be a "better" way. He's not looking to return it to it's former glory as an "industrial" machine, but to let it live out its twilight years as a hobby machine, probably run as often with a pendant controller as a "manual" mill as running programs.
We've both got some CNC experience, and machining, but we're a little light when it comes to retrofitting knowledge.
What we're looking for is some general help mapping out this project!
What we don't know is; what motor drivers are appropriate (Would Gecko G320X drives be adequate? Or should we be looking at something like the DG4S-016035 from Automation Technology?).
Would a computer running Mach4 run the operation decently? Or should we be looking at a dedicated controller? I'm in IT, so the idea of using a PC as the controller is comfortable for me - IF it'll do the job.
Would something like the myriad of CNC controllers on eBay (mostly from China) out-do the old BOSS 8?
Mostly, we're trying to set expectations, and get going on the right plan.
Why do I keep saying "We"? Well, he has a second mill, that might get retrofitted at the same time, that might end up living in MY garage!
Opinions, leads, and ideas welcome at this point.
Paul F.