I wasn't looking for one, it kind of found me and now I don't know what to do. After a couple of hours fiddling it came to life and amazingly it all seems to work. Using the buttons on the front I can control all the axis and spindle. Unfortunately the lathe came with no computer to control it so what do I do now. Does anyone have any experience with these things, can I just buy some software and plug in a computer or is it infernally complicated to get these things working. Very much out of my depth but willing to learn.
Your going to need to find out what software / interface type you need to control the machine. First thing to do is try to find a manual and go from there. P.s. a mug for scale would be helpful
I’d call Boxford directly and ask for their advice. They still refurb these machines now, and carry parts. Not sure what the software would set you back, did the previous owner have any software or a computer with it? Curious to learn how you get on as I’d like one of these - keep us updated. They’re very capable and well designed machines.
School I went to had one of those in the metal shop, the lathe itself was a brilliant piece of kit but the computer running it was a disaster, can't remember what the software was.
Lathe came from a college. It hadn't been working for at least 10 years. I did get a manual with it but it only documents the CNC mill from the same family. Unfortunately no computer, this was disposed of several years ago. I will try the Boxford route first and see what they say.
If I were you I'd get over to CNCzone and post a query. Someone might well have the software for it, though I don't know of they use a dongle or interface card. You'll most probably need a windows xp machine or older to run it.
If I recall these used ancient BBC computers. I think the best route may be to retrofit with Mach3 or Linux CNC, personally I would go the former but others prefer the latter. http://www.mycncuk.com/ will likely have info for you if you do a search.
I thought I'd read that somewhere before re BBC computers but wasn't sure. Think someone else on here had one.
I think this has a serial port on the back to connect it. So a USB serial adaptor will be needed. Then some software to get the g-code over to it. Maybe try Boxford. They made/make them for education.
Had a quick look on CNCzone and mycnc, mycnc have a thread on converting the same machine, got a few posts in and starting reading about "boolean logic algebra proves that a single 74C00N Quad NAND gate chip". Must be over 30 years since I even wrote the word Boolean or nand. Think I've got a lot of reading to do. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.
Thanks eLuSiVeMiTe, its the TCL model so hopefully once I learn the new language of CNC conversions I might be able to get it working. If I do get it working I guarantee that every single thing I sketch up from now on will include some kind of curved feature.
If you can get a pc talking to it over a serial port via USB then you may be able to control it by sending g code to it directly.
I don't think it will be as simple as that, I suspect there will be an motion control board in the PC and the lathe itself will just have the stepper drives etc. Could be wrong though as I have never even seen one.
I have seen a few people try, and fail, at getting them to work. I do believe Hood is right and it was some style of BBC computer drove them. Forget everything that went before, what you have there is a starting point. Scrap all the electronics and go from there.
Most of the second hand ones I have seen for sale didn't come with software, I think I read somewhere it was licensed from Boxford for schools. Give them a call / go to the download page https://www.boxford.co.uk/support
