Neep help wiring a Bridgeport

[SJorgensen]

Hello all,
I have just powered up my Series I Bridgeport CNC for the first time. Things are not all operational yet and I'm not sure why. One of the things that was broken was the Emergency-Stop switch. I have repaired it but I am not confident in the wiring yet. The spindle brake is activating and I'm not sure why. I'm not getting the right voltages in my logic cabinet but only on some of the outputs. Another anomally is the spindle switch. If I start it on the low speed side it starts normally. If I start it on the high speed side it runs at the same speed but in the opposite direction. The boss 5 control panel lights up with the N F S T indicators lit and the X mode lit but nothing seems to make a change and nothing seems to make the steppers step. I'm not sure how the oiling system works or ties in and there was a mystery relay added in the power box with a wire loose. The work light and coolant pump outlets are 110v but I am reading 128V on the tang that is right of the tang with the bend.

Any ideas or suggestions will be thoroughly concidered.
HELP!!
Spence

[gamachinist]

Spence,I feel for you as this just about describes the way my Boss Bridgeport acts.IIrc,there is a gear shift lever on the right side of the head that you have to switch over when you change speeds from low to high.Gypsie has been absent today but I'm sure he'll know.
My machine won't do anything but run the spindle either.I think it may have a limit switch tripped but haven't taken the time to trouble shoot further as I really have more important things I need to be doing.Oddly,I can set the jog to move the table and it will show a movement on the readout but the table doesn't move.This happens on the x and y but not on the z.The quill doesn't move or show anything on the readout.Do you have a manual to trouble shoot by?
Robert.

[SJorgensen]

Hi Robert,
It would be interesting to know how similar our machines are. Can you post a picture? I may have a source for the manual. If I can copy it I'll send it to you. What I really need is schematics. Also I need to verify the wiring of the controls on the milling head. I think my "stinger leg" might be on the wrong input. Mine has a speed lever on the right side of the spindle motor too, but the one I was refering to was an electrical switch on the face of the spindle. It has a slow speed start turning it left, and a high speed start turning it right.
Spence



Spence

[DR]

Spence,

It's a long shot guess here, but one of my mills will not run unless the auto lube system's oil level is at a certain level.

Another machine needs air pressure prior to axis movement. Are there any air line connections on your machine?

Yet another machine will not operate if the electrical cabinet door is open.

[SJorgensen]

Dr,
Yes this machine has air that operates a spindle brake and I think a speed control or shift device and it goes to a mist coolant system and it goes to a lubrication system. I think that could be a part of the problem. It may be that the phases are not on the right posts and I'm thinking that is why I am getting 128v on the coolant and lube power instead of 110v. I thought I would see 208v if the stinger leg was on the wrong post. I may just have to experiment but I don't want to blow it.
Spence

[gamachinist]

Sorry Spence,I'm not able to post a picture of my machine at the moment.
Thanks for the manual offer but I got maitenance,operators,and programming manuals with the machine when I bought it.I was going to offer to copy mine for you but if you can buy one reasonably I'd get it.The mant book has many many foldouts of wiring diagrams that I might be able to copy but I have no way of knowing if they are the same.
I saw the pictures you posted of your machine and there are a lot of diff's:
Mine doesn't have the air brake or speed changer.My machine is a V Ram yours is rigid(iIrc).My head looks like a regular 2J without the hand feed spider.I think your machine is a lot newer and is better for cnc production work.If mine had manual controls I'd be better off.
My machine has the same control for spindle speeds as yours.That much is the same on the controls and heads.
DR's advice about the lube level and air pressure are right on.I know mine is supposed to finish a routine and then not restart the routine (table and quill movements)if the lube level is low.Mine has lube in it but the Boss may not be recieving that info.The air brake may require pressure to release it and locks when pressure is removed.
ibewgypsie can probably tell you this right off the top of his head since his machine has been in operation recently.It's been over a year since I tried to get mine going.
Robert.

[gamachinist]

Spence,I forgot to ask which taper your spindle is.Did you get any tooling with the machine?
Robert.

[SJorgensen]

I only got one holder and I am pretty sure it is a Kwik Switch 200. I also got a 3/8" collet. I am looking for more holders and I find they are pretty pricy. I need a 1/4" collet to fit some of the end mills I have.
Spence

[SJorgensen]

I'm going to move the three-phase legs around to see if I get different results. I hope the risk of damage is low on everything but the 110v outlets and on those I will meter them before I plug anything in. Any last minute warnings!? I'll check with the group one last time before I flip the switch.
Thanks all,
Spence

[ibewgypsie]

The speed control is the air motor on top right of the machine. The brake is on the left.. DO you have 24 volts at the 39 and 40 terminal inside the tape drive cabinet? if so.. all that is working.. The head needs to be running to change speed, it is a taper pulley varying width and a hard flat belt if I remember right. DON"t change while sitting still.
The head hi-low range switch, well I had to roll my machine over by hand to switch it.. Yes it makes it run backwards, there was a reversing contactor in the box on the back to change direction. I figured if I wanted to change direction on mine i would just hit the reverse button on the inverter.. I left it out of the conversion.

No schematics anywhere, I have looked.. Calling bridgeport results in crap. They had the worst phone manners.. They asked me if I knew how old my machine was? 1976.. I told them I had a 50 studebaker in the yard too, it got really silent. They wanted to sell me a new cnc of course..