Bridgeport mill question?? pics here

S

skeetlee

Active member
Fellas
I need some info about this Bridgeport mill that i am going to show you pictures of. This Mill has been given to me by my real Father that we will call Gary. This way you dont get confused between Gary " my birth father" and my dad, the man that raised me. Gary bought this mill several years ago, and has never used it, nor even turned it on. He said if i can move it, i can have it. Of course this sounds really good, but Gary claims it weighs 5000 pounds. I seriously doubt it weighs 5000 pounds, but to be honest, i really wouldn't know. This machine is 3 phase so there will be some cost there to run this machine on single phase power. I dont know squat about 3 phase power, nor do i know the best way to convert. I have seen fellas use transformers " I think thats what they were" Little gray electrical box looking deal, and i have seen fellas use different motors on the floor next to the machine to convert the power. I really just dont know much about electricity. Electricity has always scared me a bit so i haven't ever been real enthused about it. I cant bring my dad over to look at this mill with me, because if knew were i was getting it from he probably wouldn't have much to do with it. Bad blood there!! Anyway i am kinda on my own with this one, until i get it to my dads shop. then i will find a way to explain were it came from. This mill is 1HP with a 42" table. i think it is probably the right size for what we will do with it, but it looks like its missing a few things, and i just dont know if its worth the trouble, i really dont. I also had the idea about selling this Mill and buying a little import, but there again, i really dont know what i have here, nor do i have any idea what this Mill is worth. Any info you fellas might know about this mill would be helpful. Enjoy the pics and let me know what you think. Sorry the pics are a little dark. the mill is sitting on a loading dock in the dark. Oh, how much do you think this dam mill weighs? Can i move it on a steel floor car trailer? Lee

bridgeportmill011.jpg


bridgeportmill010.jpg


bridgeportmill009.jpg


bridgeportmill008.jpg


bridgeportmill007.jpg


bridgeportmill006.jpg


bridgeportmill005.jpg


bridgeportmill004.jpg
 
Last edited:
Lee, Mill weighs about 2000 lbs. Easy enough to move. Will be a bit top heavy so you should rotate the head until it rests on the table. You will want to lower the table all the way, put a peice of wood down and let the head rest on the wood. You should be able to pick it up with a cherry picker of some kind. The rotary phase converters are better in my opinion. Definately worth having. An older Bridgeport is 10 times better than a new china wonder. MSC sell new Bridgeports for about $15000.00.

Good Luck,

Don Carper
 
thanks don
I have been doing some reading on the phase converters trying to educate myself on this subject. so far i have read about static converters and phase a matic rotary converters. One is fairly cheep and the other not so cheep. LOL!! thanks again! Lee
 
FOrget a phase converter, get a Variable Frequency Drive "vfd" I just hooked my Lagun up to one, its great. I leave my mill in High Gear and control the speed with the vfd. They are easy enough to wire up, I did it. VFD's cost about $200 for what you need.

Looks like you have a Series one J Head Bridgeport. I dont see where its missing anything, other than collets to hold the endmills.
 
what exactly is a Variable frequency drive and how does this work with a three phase motor? You dont have to convert anything? I guess i dont understand. Lee
 
Lee, You may also want to look into the price of a 240 volt single phase motor. I understand that your "new" lathe is single phase. MSC or Enco will have all of the tooling that you can use and or afford.

Don
 
***DO NOT*** sell that for Chinese junk. When you learn the difference you will be very happy you didn't.
 
Just got through refinishing mine. Wow - a lot of work. Stripping, sanding,filling, taking apart, putting together, painting.....
well worth the trouble - a great piece of equipment. this one is from the late 60's.

IMAG0102.jpg


IMAG0103.jpg
 
I use a VFD on my Bridgeport copy. However, it's for the variable speed option rather than converting from single phase to three phase. I have three phase in and three phase out. My shop is next to a three phase line so just had to pay for having another transformer hung to get three phase, the wiring and all that entails to get three phase into the shop. It's pretty handy to have VFD control. My main lathe also has VFD control but it came with it when it was made. Sure nice to be able to change speeds with the twist of a dial intead of having to change belts.
 
The mill weighs 1560 lbs if my memory is correct. The pics of the move were done exactly as it is suppose to be done.
Notice the ram is equally sticking out from each side of the column. Also note the table is centered left to right & is cranked as close to the column as it will go. This balances the machine as well as can be done to be picked up by the ram.
 
When I bought my milling machine I paid $500 to have it moved by professionals. The distance was only about 15 miles but I feel it was money well spent. They had a forklift with the cage removed and it could roll right in the residential height garage doors. They sat it right where I wanted it.

One tip from looking at the pics. Don't turn any of the handwheels until you have cleaned off any corrosion or grit on the various sliding surfaces.
 
Butch and others
Will i loose 30 to 40% of my power with a VFD? I was told i would. I only have a 1HP motor. Lee
 
That's BS. Some of the older ones were like that. Do your research. Both of my Bridgeports are 1hp and I have older VFDs. I have a couple rotary phase converters also. I would not take for my VFDs.
Butch
 
Thanks Butch
Hopefully today i will have some time to call a couple different manufactures of the VFD systems. any recommendations? lee
 
Oh...don't listen to Butch, the texas heat is getting to him. Let me come and pick up that old piece of iron junk. I'll give you 8 cents a pound scrap price for it and haul it off for you for free. That's 120.00 big ones in the pocket and you'll never have to stare at that thing again :cool:

Hovis
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top