Equipment/Boxford CNC Mill
From London Hackspace Wiki
| CNC Mill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Model | Boxford 190VMC |
| Sub-category | CNC |
| Status | Good working order |
| Training requirement | yes |
| ACnode | Yes |
| Owner | DeanForbes, tgreer |
| Origin | Donation |
| Location | Basement, Robotics/CNC area |
| Maintainers | =CNC Team, Robotics, Metalbashers |
Specs
- 8 spindle speeds 350 to 3500 rpm
- Rapid traverse rate at 100% 2000mm/min (78"/min)
- Axis travel
- X(longitudinal) 225mm (8.9")
- Y(cross) 150mm (5.9")
- Z(vertical) 140mm(5.5")
- System resolution 0.005mm
- Table dimensions 410 x 130mm(16.1" x 5.1")
- Spindle to table 202mm (7.9")
- Centre line of spindle to column 130mm (5.1")
- Table to column 5 to 130mm (0.2" x 5.1")
- Tee slots 2 x 10mm
Updates
- 13-Oct-2015 : System is now up and running using BCNC on Ubuntu
- 15-May-2015 : Dean, Phil et all doing conversion to Mach3 capable machine which will involve minimal retrofiting of mill and use of a PC
- 24-SEP-2014 : Mill works with V5 of the boxford software, need to enter administration mode in the graphical screen by pressing F10
- 12-JUL-2014 : Connector is DB25 and almost certainly serial. It appears there is an internal g-code interpreter.
- 10-JUL-2014 : Mill arrived, mechanics and electrics work, has a 25W serial port out the back, need to research how to interface.
ToDo
- Chip removal / coolant (compressed air or liquid pump)
- Finalise training
More info
Boxford 1st, 2nd axis modification
Boxford GS-D200S Stepper Drive pinout
Boxford hack #4
Boxford hack #5
- (Mailing list post)
- http://www.glostertooling.co.uk/backup/download/Engineers%20tool%20catalogue.pdf look at page 8 the dimensions match at first glance
- http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/Tapers_and_Chuck_keys
- Spindle taper is a Coventry quick-change ref Or possibly EasyChange. maker examples
- Reliable Manual source (cheaper would be nice)
- Possible manual source
- V5 Programming Manual
- Photos by Russ
Boxford are said to be unhelpful regarding support and will only talk to educational users. However, they do publish spares lists and software updates.
Needed
- Coolant / chip removal system - those chips build up fast! Either a suds pump or (quiet?) compressor/non fogging mist will be needed as the interlock prevents manual removal of chips during a program.
- ER type collect can be had from Gloster Tooling a price has not been obtained yet the, model is EC EM16 035 on page 8 @ http://www.glostertooling.co.uk/backup/download/Engineers%20tool%20catalogue.pdf
Not needed
- People who take it apart and leave it in pieces
- Experimenting carelessly. Consider it in the same light as the laser cutter, the robot arm etc. : if you want to work on it, join the official maintainers group and cooperate.
Troubleshooting
- The cutter appears to spin off-centre
- When slotting in the collet make sure to put it the right way in as it's got a notch which will only go in fully when aligned
Training
The system is currently in an "beta" state. If you would like to get trained to do a specific job you have in mind, on the understanding that you may find issues along the way (which helps us too!) you can email the Robotics mailing list to arrange a time for training. You will find this easiest if you take a look at one of the recommended packages above (or your own choice of package, we will try to accomodate).
