Seven years using Centroid CNC and still Loving it!

Post your completed retrofits for the world to see.

Moderator: cnckeith

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klmoses
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:57 pm

Seven years using Centroid CNC and still Loving it!

Post by klmoses »

I retrofitted my first a centroid cnc seven years ago this July. I am a machinist by trade and had only ever used manual shop equipment. I had wanted a cnc for years but the cost of a good used machine with a current control was out of my range. I decided the only way I was going to be able to afford a cnc was to find a machine with a dead control and do the retrofit myself. I purchased an old Bridgeport Series l Boss 4 off Ebay for $700 and then started looking for a control. Back then most do it yourself retrofits were stepper motor systems. I was about to purchase a Ah-Ha stepper system (out of business now) when I heard about centroid CNC. The cost for the centroid CNC servo system was less than the stepper system and had more accessories (Digitizing Probe, Automatic Tool Length Measurement, Offline Programming among others). Ajax even had a retrofit kit designed specifically for the Bridgeport Boss.

The kit was well documented and the technical support was fantastic whenever I needed them.
I was even able to do 99% of all the electrical work myself (I had an electrician help me with selecting the correct wire size for the given loads and wiring the motor reversing contactor).
When the time came to apply power to the system, every thing went smoothly with no surprises.
I have included a before and after photos of my first retrofit.

Part programming is where the Ajax system really stands out. The conversational programming is just fill in the blank and had me making parts in a matter of hours. The machine ran so well that I ordered another kit and retrofitted another Bridgeport Boss eight months later. And talk about bulletproof. My machines are located in Eastern North Carolina in a non air-conditioned building. In the summer it is not uncommon for the temperature to be 92° and 70% humidity in the building and in seven years not one glitch. My machines are the old DOS based controls not the Linux type. I will upgrade to the Linux system if mine ever dies, but after seven years of wonderful service, I don’t think that will be happening any time soon!

So for anyone who is thinking about an centroid CNC system, all I can say is the system is affordable, reliable, easy to use with great documentation and fantastic technical support.
What is there not to love?
Attachments
After Ajax retrofit.
After Ajax retrofit.
Before Ajax retrofit.
Before Ajax retrofit.
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Seven years using centroid CNC and still Loving it!

Post by cnckeith »

Ken,
Hello. Hey thanks for the great post. here are a few more photos that I had kicking around from when I came to visit all those many years ago.
Ken with his centroid CNC Bridgeport Boss retrofit
ken with machine.jpg
Ken made a Custom Boss control panel, CNC machined of course
remote boss buttons.jpg
Ken reused the stock Bridgeport cabinet, nice job for your first retrofit!
DSC02724.jpg
Magnetic pendant sits on the monitor tray for easy access.
DSC02844.jpg
A typical part.
platewithtubes-1.JPG
Side view of the machine with auto oiler with level indicator tied into the control and the mister
DSC02757.JPG
Digitizing a 3D broom handle part to reverse engineer it. (this photo is from another of Ken's AjaxCNC equipped machines: A Boss series II)
Digbroomheadfronton.JPG
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
kaimaui
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:35 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Seven years using centroid CNC and still Loving it!

Post by kaimaui »

HI Keith forwarded me a link to your post.
I am just fitting a series 1 and was wondering what size pulley you have on your x and y motor.

Thanks

KAI
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: Yes
Oak CNC controller: Yes
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: Yes
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: Yes
Contact:

Re: Seven years using centroid CNC and still Loving it!

Post by cnckeith »

Kai,
Hello. check out this collection of Boss retrofit photos. I'll ad some captions when i get the time.. however I think you'll find these informative.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WFrDSWGZYTvxtQgEA

and the web page..

https://www.centroidcnc.com/bridgeport_boss.htm

also if anyone wants to retrofit a new modern encoder on a Stock Boss SERVO motor.

here is a pictorial.

https://www.centroidcnc.com/sem_dc_serv ... rofit.html

-Keith
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
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