Equipment/Boxford CNC Mill

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CNC Mill
190VMC CNC mill.jpg
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

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

Generating g-code from your designs

There are a lot of different options for preparing a g-code file which can be loaded onto the CNC to cut a design. Some examples include;

2D Packages

3D Packages

When using Fusion 360, in order to post to the Hackspace CNC machines, the "Generic EMC2" post-processor should be selected when finally saving the g-code file. LinuxCNC recognises the "ngc" file extension although any extension can be used.

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).

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