Subject: BridgePort Series 1 = cnc ?

From: [email-masked]
Date: 12 Jun 96 16:22:55 -0500

Does anyone know of a company that retrofits BridgePort Series 1
	millers to have cnc capabilities?  Good/bad points to consider?

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From: [email-masked] (BILLG63475)
Date: 12 Jun 1996 20:23:53 -0400

Check with the good people at AhHa, They have been very helpful to me over
the past couple of years.  I have several machines running on their
software and hardware as well as a couple of machines using different
hardware. 

I believe that they also offer ballscrew kits for Bridgeports as well.

Their phone number is: 612-641-1797

Bill

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From: Marc Davis <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 14:14:43 -0700

> software and hardware as well as a couple of machines using different

Do you have one of thair mill conversions?  How well does it work?  Do you find the open loop 
system they use to be a problem?  What about the backlash compinsation?

Thanks Marc

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From: [email-masked] (BILLG63475)
Date: 17 Jun 1996 08:14:27 -0400

In article <[email-masked]>, Marc Davis
<[email-masked]> writes:

>
>Do you have one of thair mill conversions?  

Yes, I have several of their software packages and a couple of the
hardware systems.

>How well does it work? 

I have been making parts for over 2 years now, and have recomended the
system to several people who are using their machines for various
operations from drilling holes in circuit boards to making molds. I am not
a machinist, but have made some fairly complex parts. The next catalog
>from  AhHa will have some pictures of some of the parts that I have made.

> Do you find the open loop system they use to be a problem?  

I cant remember the last time that I stalled a motor, or lost any steps. I
recently checked on the cost of a servo retrofit package, it was about 4
times more expensive than the top of the line AhHa system and their cost
to install and tune up the system was over $5000.00. More than my
pocketbook can afford. 

I think that one of AhHa's slogans is 80% of functionality for 20% of the
cost

>What about the backlash compinsation?

A very simple entry in the softwares cnc setup menu enables backlash
compensation. 

Note:

Their software is easily configurable to drive most any Stepper driver
system that uses step and direction input signals. Even the most basic
package has more features than I could possibly describe here. 

I believe that they have demo disks available that gives you a real good
idea of how the software looks and operates.

Bill