Given that it works perfectly in manual mode and is a fairly new machine with 8 position tool turret and Mitsubishi inverter, I can see no compelling argument to throw. I have just converted my Boxford 160. I have effectively disconnected the steppers and the spindle control from the Boxford serial board.

Hi Folks, I've just come by a Boxford 160 CNC lathe:-) Sadly just the lathe and not the accompanying micro to run it but it's a start. I know these were (are?) still used in UK schools and colleges and I'm sure we have a few teachers and lecturers here. If any of you have experience of this lathe I'd be greatful of a little help, starting with 'Do you run it backwards?' It looks to me like the tool post is rigged such that you have to spin it in reverse to present the correct tool face to the work piece. Any help gratefully received. Andy Similar Threads: • • • • •.

I have a converted Boxford 240TCL running on Mach3 and although it came with a front and rear tool post I only use the rear toolpost and have removed the front one completely. I run the lathe spindle clockwise as normal but have all the tools mounted upside down. Although this seems bizzare it works perfectly and removes the need to reverse the lathe when running drill etc and all the swarf drops freely away from the cutting tip. There does not seem to be any problem with cutting forces and the work remains in easy access for measuring and loading. Seems the optimum setup for me! Did you ever get anywhere with the software.

I have a 160 run on the pc with version 4.31 but it does not have any homing switches does any one have a 160 running homing switch and a newer version of software. Could you help me the control board can have them fitted but i need to know 1 pin outs 2 newer software version 3 get a copy of the 4 eprom on the board i have a copier to do this. Boxford will not help you at all. They will not support you unless you are a school if any one whats the software to run a non homing machin i will give them the software to run it plus the linice to run it up and hopefully some one will help me thanks adrian lockrey. Yes, I have made some progress.

My lathe has two main boards mounted on to the read door. The bottom one holds the micro processor and the top is a driver board. I found I was able to disconnect the X and Z clock and direction pins between the two boards, they are marked, and drop them onto my PCs parallel port (I'd checked they were 5v but this still may be a bad idea). This way I had control of X and Z. The lathe still had the motor.

I found though that the microprocessor uses some trick to get control of the tool changer using the X drive plus another, unidentified, pin so my mod stopped the tool changer working. I re-connected the two boards as normal. I then found the datasheets on the stepper motor drivers and found that they just want clock and direction as you'd expect so I broke the traces to these pins on the driver board and ran them to the PC (again this may be a bad idea). This has been working fine for the last few months.

It's not a full conversion, I get X and Z and the lathe gets motor and tool change but it's still useful. I may take it further when time allows but for the time being I'm happy with it. All the best. Andy, I am still thinking, before cutting tracks. Mine is a later 160, just the serial connection, I have software, but no key. From other threads, sounds like there is a boot loader file that has to be loaded to the controller before download of files.

Know the hardware connection should be null modem cable, 9200 bps, 8 bit, 1 stop, no parity. Also have copy of Denford VR turn that I am told will work it. Had a discussion with guys at Hawk Design who have a driver for most of Boxford machines. Need to get to see them again. Seems pity to carve up a working machine. Don't think Boxford realise the large 2nd user potential market for these machines. Hi, I have a fully working TCL 160 with original software (ver 6, their last for this machine) and belive me, If I had the time I would convert to Mach3, when it starts going wrong I will do.

For a start it will only work in Win 95/98 loaded although the program runs in a dos mode which means you cannot do anything else (calculator for instance). The tool page is limited and by today's standards it's pants. Do your self a favour and buy a breakout board for paralell port and connect the step and direction pins from the boards you mentioned above. If your toolchanger dosn't have it's own driver, get one and connect to the breakout board and then go to the Mach3 forum and do a search for toolchanger macro's, I've posted one and so have others.

I'll be glad to help with sorting a macro for it. I'm using Mach3 on a Denford Orac and now the TCL is gathering dust cos I can setup and run the Orac Quicker that my old win98 laptop boots up. Hope this helps. Download Dev21 Untuk Ps2 To Usb there.

Hi I have recently bought one of these, which of course is missing the PC, manuals and all software. It is approx 2000 vintage and has almost had no use. Given that it works perfectly in manual mode and is a fairly new machine with 8 position tool turret and Mitsubishi inverter, I can see no compelling argument to throw away half the machine and replace the steppers, motors etc. Does anyone have experience of getting one running as is??

Does anyone have manuals for the 160? Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the 160? Previous posts suggest the paperwork is out there, but I can see nothing about conversion using original equipment, except that it appears possible. All help gratefully received Melee. Hi Sounds like we might have some info to share over the next few months.

Ultimately I want to get mine running via EMC2 (Linux) as I work and program solely with Linux. I will be using a DIYCNC opto board, which arrived on Friday. Initially I can see that all the main pins required for axis movement and rotation are on one board connector on the stepper board. When I have satisfied myself that I can control all this in isolation, I have in mind a solution involving patching in, thus enabling most of the facia controls to work as jog controls if nothing else.

This may require complete isolation by means of a 'manual / computer' switch and the actual patch points will require diodes to prevent reverse current feed, but in theory at present it seems feasible. Autocad 2006 Free Download Full Version For Windows 8 here. Your current stage, working out how to get speed control sorted seems a common sticking point. Lot of mention of having to widen the single slot in the disc to enable Mach3 to use it.

By the time I get there, hopefully you will have cracked it! I got your message, easiest way to contact is via email junk398ATtiscaliDOTcoDOTuk. I am in, not so sunny at the moment, Dorset regards Melee.

Hi I have had partial sucess, but not in a way that will please Mach 3 fans Had a complete blank under Mach 3 I cut the 12 pin plug on the stepper board, which includes the X Y and Z step and dir connections, in half so that the other feeds remained between stepper and processor board. I then replaced the top half of the plug with another linked into relevant connections on my opto board (DIYCNC optoport). All I got was a slight clunk when changing direction but no stepping. Swap the plug back over and the lathe moves fine in manual mode so nothing wrong with steppers etc. I increased the step pulse time to max, swapped drives from active low to active high, re-checked wiring until blue in the face - nothing, just a slight clunk when changing direction from + to - Then I did what I should have done in the first place, I went to Linux and started EMC2 The configuration is pretty detailed, but even with default settings I had something trying to happen on both axis. I took off the stepper motors, counted teeth, measured how far the carriage moved in one revolution of the screw etc to get the motor tuning figures I needed. I wired one of these last night on mach 3 (a 125 model) the output from the original pcb to the stepper board is floating around 10v so to get it to work i connected directly to the inputs of the output transistor array 2803a.

Worked perfectly and can still be controlled manually with pc inputs off! This way the driver board is receiving the same input voltage as it had originally. The only wire i disconnected was the 10v signal at the gemini motor driver to feed it its 10v from the d to a converter run from mach 3. If you connect direct to the stepper input board the motors will only move with the direction input removed, obviously no good! The problem turned out to be the parallel port cable. It was an unused moulded plug one, but some of the pins were reversed.

It may have come with an old scanner I had or possibly was actually a 25 pin serial lead. The only reason why EMC2 worked was that I set that up several days later, off the top of my head and inadvertently swapped the DIR and CLK feeds around thus undoing the internal pin swaps! At present I have only replaced the Dir and Step pulse leads and left the existing power feeds etc. I will bear your solution in mind when I come to wire up a final solution leaving manual control. Regards Melee. Didn't you already ask that yesterday?

I have put the manuals on my webspace for download by whoever wants them. Only condition is don't download them and try to sell them on Ebay! Keep information and code free. User manual Programming Manual They are of limited usefulness but do have a wiring schematic for more recent 160's. The programming exercises look useful until you begin to realise that Boxford obviously use a lot of proprietary G code etc. Because the numbers for basic routines like G71 canned rough turning are different and have different parameters. I got a 160 a while back, been busy finshing a mill.

Rereading the threads, can somebody explain further:- 'the output from the original pcb to the stepper board is floating around 10v so to get it to work i connected directly to the inputs of the output transistor array 2803a.' Assume this array is on the lower board? By connecting this way will manual still work? 'the only wire i disconnected was the 10v signal at the gemini motor driver to feed it its 10v from the d to a converter run from mach 3.'

What is the gemini? I have an invertor to drive the motor 'if you connect direct to the stepper input board the motors will only move with the direction input removed, obviously no good!' Assume cutting wire will kill manual use, but does the connection to the TR array fix this?

Was the TR array disconnected from the Z80 board?