CNC Lathe Retrofit Part1 Boxford 240 TCL

With some time on my hands, I decided to have a look at a project that has been shelved for a while! The first job was to clean off the grime and strip the z axis ballscrew to inspect. This Boxford 240 TCL came from a local college and has done basically no work. When I bought it it was in bad cosmetic shape due to sitting in a damp shed so I stripped and resprayed the tinwork. Originally ran a BBC computer we are retrofitting with modern steppers with Linuxcnc as the controller.

[@jdrimm]

Watching avidly! I am sloooowwwlllyyyy converting an old Tiawanese turret lathe into a CNC, love seeing someone esle DIY a lathe. Seems like most are doing mills or routers!

[@owensengineering286]

Thanks! I feel you on the slowly, this was started maybe 3 years ago and then shelved due to not having time. Amazing how having to do repeat parts over and over on a centre lathe can motivate you!

[@jdrimm]

@@owensengineering286 I build prototype one-off's but need something ridgid and fast for tiny hard things, like 316 SS , tungsten and molybdenum. Sometimes weird geometries too, so CNC is going to be really nice!

[@owensengineering286]

I used to be in the design/prototyping game. Lots of fun but also lots of pulling your hair out! CNC is invaluable in that game for sure