I bought a Bridgeport mill...

[BiscuitsandGravy]

I finally found a Bridgeport mill for hobby use... Its a bit grimy but it works. I didn't get a chance to run it due to being at an auction so I held my breath and bought it... I'm thinking about documenting some of the cleanup and restoration on this channel.

This first video is a quick test of the quill power feed. For someone that has never operated or touched a knee mill it was glorious. We unloaded it, I hooked up a VFD and off it ran... Pretty cool for a total noob.

2hp variable speed and appears to be a 1981 vintage by the SN.



Here it is getting loaded on the trailer...

 

[dprimm]

Got a bunch of these at work. I struggle to find the on off switch. The guys that work them can do amazing things

 

[Lpherr]

That's a nice "hobby" machine.

 

[EyeCarry]

Oooo, jealously happy for you. I've been staring at at lathe recently posted on FB.

 

[femurphy77]

Cool! Guy down the street has one with computer controls for it asking $2500, wish I could justify it.

 

[Lpherr]

Cool! Guy down the street has one with computer controls for it asking $2500, wish I could justify it.

A CNC Bridgeport? Wish I had the expendable cash.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

Someone's going to be buying 80% lowers by the truck load now.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Can't go wrong with a Bridgeport!

 

[Aggar]

We’ve got one at the farm. Pretty handy.

 

[04FXSTS]

Nice, now set it in place, level it and indicate everything. Also chuck up a dowel pin and put an indicator on it to check run-out. If you need help getting everything indicated DM me and I can help run you through the steps. No problem since I am a retired tool and die maker. Jim.

 

[indyblue]

I’ve noticed that Bridgeport gray is a popular car color now

 

[Creedmoor]

Cool! Guy down the street has one with computer controls for it asking $2500, wish I could justify it.

Single Phase?

 

[T-DOGG]

Congrats on the new mill. I got my Rockwell a year ago and have been really enjoying learning machining.

 

[indyblue]

Who was it here that bought one recently and it was all effed up out of the box?

 

[WebSnyper]

Who was it here that bought one recently and it was all effed up out of the box?

It was 55fairlane I believe.

 

[ditcherman]

Single Phase?

VFD's are the way...

 

[ditcherman]

I finally found a Bridgeport mill for hobby use... Its a bit grimy but it works. I didn't get a chance to run it due to being at an auction so I held my breath and bought it... I'm thinking about documenting some of the cleanup and restoration on this channel.

This first video is a quick test of the quill power feed. For someone that has never operated or touched a knee mill it was glorious. We unloaded it, I hooked up a VFD and off it ran... Pretty cool for a total noob.

2hp variable speed and appears to be a 1981 vintage by the SN.



Here it is getting loaded on the trailer...

View attachment 341729

I was right there about 5 years ago. Auction, knew nothing about it or the lathe. Except my father in law is a retired tool and die maker. He was a really good tool and die maker and a great guy, but he isn't the greatest teacher, I hope you have a quicker learning curve than I have had.
Maybe I need to go to my neighbors in Kirlkin and learn something...

 

[ditcherman]

A CNC Bridgeport? Wish I had the expendable cash.

That sounds too good to be true, if its industrial and working.

 

[Creedmoor]

Not sure VFD are all single/3 phase compatible. Thats why I ask.
And without a VFD most vintage machine shop equipment are 3 ph.
Even the Kalamazoo saw I bought 25 years ago was 3 ph.
I'm long over using a roto or static converter.

 

[ditcherman]

Not sure VFD are all single/3 phase compatible. Thats why I ask.
And without a VFD most vintage machine shop equipment are 3 ph.
Even the Kalamazoo saw I bought 25 years ago was 3 ph.
I'm long over using a roto or static converter.

My old bridgeport and logan lathe are on VFD's.
I had never used a roto phase and it just didn't sound like a good idea to me.
We have three phase at the farm but not my shop so I was familiar with it.
Of course, the price of a VFD goes exponentially up with the hp requirements, but a little 2 horse Bridgeport was a couple hundred max IIRC. Runs it very nicely.

Not all VFD's are made just to convert single to three phase, some are just speed control, our new-to-us grain dryer uses them and it's so nice to have an auger turn the right speed, not just full speed.

I will say that using a VFD on the mill did increase my learning curve as a complete noob, as the speed on the mill dial becomes meaningless.