How to install a CENTROID CNC retrofit kit

Classic Bridgeport Boss 5 NC knee mill ready for a retrofit!

Bridgeport manufactured a large number of "Boss" machines
throughout the 70's and 80's. These machines are of high quality
and make an excellent choice for a CENTROID CNC retrofit.

There are many other brands of good high quality machines

available on the market today for reasonable prices. The original
controls have gone past their useful life and the machines
themselves have outlived the electronics. Often older NC and
CNC machines can be found in excellent mechanical condition.
These machines usually have been a nightmare to operate and
maintain since the stock control is so outdated. Also, many of
these old controls were never really that good to begin with and
since the original systems were so difficult and problematic to use
it is common to see early NC machines with low hours on
them...prime for a CENTROID retrofit.

Remove the old NC control

The first step is removing the old NC control from the machine.
With a Boss machine this only takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The
old Boss 5 control has two cabinets, one on the right and one in
the back of the machine. Both are removed reducing the footprint
of the machine significantly.
Mount the new CENTROID CNC control cabinet
Next mount the new CENTROID CNC control cabinet to the back
of the machine. The bottom bracket uses two existing mounting
holes. As you can see the CENTROID retrofit kit comes
completely assembled ready to install right out of the box! The
large black flexi-conduit connects to the operators console. The
coiled cables on the floor are all factory prewired ready to hookup
to the spindle,lube pump, flood pump, mister, speed up/dn,
spindle brake, X,Y,Z axis motors and limit switches. No other kit
is so complete. All the cables are labeled and clearly indicated on
the hookup schematic.

Remove the old stepper motors

Since this is a Boss 5 which used big, old, hot and noisy stepper
motors we will be replacing the axis motors with new CENTROID
29 in-lb DC servo motors.(continuous torque rating click here for
more info on torque ratings) So now, simply unbolt the stock
motors and retain all the hardware.

To mount the new CENTROID servo motors we will be reusing

the existing belts, pulleys and hardware. The new CENTROID
servo motor is a direct bolt up! what could be easier?

Mount the new Servo motor

The CENTROID servo motor is over 2 times as powerful and
twice as fast as the old stepper motor it replaces and more
importantly it has a resolution that is over 8 times that of the old
motor AND the new motor is closed loop unlike the old stepper
motor so, it never loses position.

Once the motors are mounted simply screw on the cable coming
from the control onto the cannon connector located on the motor.
It is keyed so it only goes on one way.
Mount the operators console
Mounting the console is quick and simple, all the brackets and
hardware are supplied with a CENTROID retrofit kit. We simply
drilled and tapped 4 holes and bolted the supplied bracket onto
the side of the ram. Then we install the center pin for the hinge at
both ends and hung the operators console. Once the console
was hung, we simply connected the flexi-conduit to that runs from
the console to the control magnetics cabinet.

Power up and checkout.

Now there are only a few things to finish connecting such as the
power cables for the accessories and then we are ready to power
up and proceed with the control configuration and check out.
Since we have used a complete CENTROID CNC kit with new
motors and all new control electronics this machine is not limited
in any way by the technology originally used. It is now a much
more capable machine and much more reliable and user friendly.
It is now compatible with modern computer equipment and
programs and is software updateable, unlike the old control
which sealed its doom.

Machine parts not possible with the original control.

Not only did we revive this great machine we added CNC
capabilities that were never possible with the old control.

 True 3 axis machining with high speed processing. (no

hesitation)
 2D and 3D Digitizing
 Color graphics: while programming, while machining.
 Stop and restart job at any point.
 Remembers part zero positions if power is removed or E-
stop
 Remembers part programs and tool librarys
 Automatic tool height measurement
 Built in Hard drive and ethernet LAN ready, USB port.
 Conversational programming.
 Graph and Edit G-codes from any source at the control.