Hi from another aussie

[tonyr769]

Hi all,

I live in Melbourne and have been an arm chair model engineer most of my life. I have a part finished Juliet loco that I started years ago. I have been "lurking" for quite awhile and have been very impressed with the models and friendliness of this site.

My main project at the moment is to retrofit a Boxford 250 PC CNC lathe so that I can get back into machining. The lathe works just fine using the manual controls but needs work to connect with Mach3 ( new breakout board etc). I have basic tools drill, grinder, linisher, etc. I have reasonable hand and machine skills having worked in the metal trades years ago and having picked up a great deal from my father.

I am also building a small gauge 1 loco and need to draw up the boiler to get an AMBSC boiler approval, so will be looking for a good CAD package to learn.

;DMy main interest is steam and locos in particular. Anyway I recon this site is tops and I look forward to a long association.

 

[tel]

Welcome Tony

 

[AussieJimG]

Welcome Tony, this is a great site.

Jim

 

[skyline1]

Welcome Tony

Your CNC retrofit sound interesting, If the machine works O.K. in manual then the stepper and spindle drives are most likely O.K. so you're almost there. There are links to breakout boards on the Mach 3 site (but you probably know that).

I am investigating BobCAD at the moment http://www.bobcad.com/ It seems to be fairly easy to use and being a complete CAD/CAM package it will link directly to Mach 3 and output G Code for it (Or Fanuc or most other controllers for that matter).

I am considering a CNC conversion for my Myford but I will have to do that from the ground up along these lines http://www.jeffree.co.uk/modelengineering.html There are also some useful links to suppliers on this site which you might find handy.

If you have difficulty sourcing Boxford bits in Oz there are many members of this forum, including myself, who live in the U.K. and may be able to help.

Regards Mark
http://www.jeffree.co.uk/modelengineering.html

 

[Swifty]

Hi Tony, welcome to the group. There seems to be some quiet takeover move going on by us Aussies.

Paul.

 

[tonyr769]

Thanks to everyone for their welcome.

Mark: Thanks for your offer to source parts. I'm lucky in that the lathe appears to be in as new mechanical condition. It is 20 years old but appears to have had little use. So I'm hoping that the electronic retrofit will be about all is needed to get operational. Also thanks for the links. There is heaps of info on programming but no so much on the hardware side of things, every bit helps.

Tony

 

[skyline1]

Hi Tony

As you Aussies say, no worries mate.

I came across this a couple of days ago on Ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300785087046?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

So You might not be alone, looks as though controller failures on older Boxford CNCs are a fairly common problem.

Mechanically though they are really solid I've used several Boxfords over the years, manual ones though not a CNC.

I Mustn't say that too close to Millie (My Myford) 'cos she'll sulk and I'll have to bribe her again.

Regards Mark

 

[compspecial]

hello Tony, and a warm welcome to the forum.
Stew

 

[seagar]

Hi Tony,welcome from another Aussie.Maybe we should all link up on Skype sometime.

Ian(seagar)
Arrawarra,N.S.W.

 

[lennardhme]

Welcome & greetings from Gippsland
Leonard