Bridgeport Mill

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Well I just figured I would share my exitement. Iv'e had my bridgeport in storage for the last 8 years, and just got the news from my friend that he's selling his house and the machines gotta go. I feel like a kid on christmas again, but now gotta find a place to put it. This time it's getting set up to use. Not having it around really made me lose touch of what a sweet machine this is. When I first got the news I was thinking oh well, up for sale! Not after seeing it again! Attached ImagesI hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Actually, the correct way to long term store a vertical mill is with the head completely inverted and the table brought up to bear lightly on the head with a block of wood placed between the housing and the table.  That keeps the castings from moving.  When you LT store a machine with the head canted to the side, the castings move with the imposed stress,Same way when moving a machine.  I like to strip it, removing the head, pulling the ram, pulling the upper from the base and lowering the table completely down.  That makes the components easier to handle.  I've set many vertical mills and machining centers with just an engine hoist.Bridgeports especially, don't like sitting directly on a concrete floor.  For one. the concrete probably isn't level so the points at which the base casting contacts the floor will place uneven stress on the base casting, it makes it impossible to level in 3 axis's so your accuracy will suffer.  I place machinery mounts (Anti-vibration adjustable mounts) through each base mount hole to isolate the machine from the floor and then level the machine in the X-Y and Z axis with precision machinery levels.  I use LSS levels with the vials graduated in 0.005.  I do the same thing with any machine tool plus I check them yearly because floors move with temperature changes.  It takes some time but the end result is a machine that will accurately produce parts, especially when the parts have a long horizontial axis.Before using, run some very light machine oil, like Marvel Mystery Oil through the spindle via the oil cups.  let the oil permeated the bearing packs and drip off the spindle on the bottom.  Drain the one shot oiler and put in some MMO and pump it up and get the slide ways covered and leadscrews covered too.  Then swithch to way oli, I use Vactra No. 4 in the one shot oiler and pump it in to get the leadscrews and slideways lubed with a thin film boundary lubricant.Fill the oil cups on the head with light spindle oil (I use Mobil Velocide Spindle oil) and let it course through the bearing packs.8 years is a long time for the motor too.  The motor needs greased but you have to pull it to lube it.If I don't get a spray of oil on my shirt when I start my mill, it's not getting proper lubrication.Thats how I do maintenace on all my mills.Nice machine BTW.Last edited by SidecarFlip; 01-06-2013 at 11:14 AM.Reason: Additional info.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeWell I just figured I would share my exitement. Iv'e had my bridgeport in storage for the last 8 years, and just got the news from my friend that he's selling his house and the machines gotta go. I feel like a kid on christmas again, but now gotta find a place to put it. This time it's getting set up to use. Not having it around really made me lose touch of what a sweet machine this is. When I first got the news I was thinking oh well, up for sale! Not after seeing it again!
Reply:Enjoy. Now the fun begins finding tooling ect.
Reply:Originally Posted by endmillEnjoy. Now the fun begins finding tooling ect.
Reply:Originally Posted by SidecarFlipActually, the correct way to long term store a vertical mill is with the head completely inverted and the table brought up to bear lightly on the head with a block of wood placed between the housing and the table.  That keeps the castings from moving.  When you LT store a machine with the head canted to the side, the castings move with the imposed stress,Same way when moving a machine.  I like to strip it, removing the head, pulling the ram, pulling the upper from the base and lowering the table completely down.  That makes the components easier to handle.  I've set many vertical mills and machining centers with just an engine hoist.Bridgeports especially, don't like sitting directly on a concrete floor.  For one. the concrete probably isn't level so the points at which the base casting contacts the floor will place uneven stress on the base casting, it makes it impossible to level in 3 axis's so your accuracy will suffer.  I place machinery mounts (Anti-vibration adjustable mounts) through each base mount hole to isolate the machine from the floor and then level the machine in the X-Y and Z axis with precision machinery levels.  I use LSS levels with the vials graduated in 0.005.  I do the same thing with any machine tool plus I check them yearly because floors move with temperature changes.  It takes some time but the end result is a machine that will accurately produce parts, especially when the parts have a long horizontial axis.Before using, run some very light machine oil, like Marvel Mystery Oil through the spindle via the oil cups.  let the oil permeated the bearing packs and drip off the spindle on the bottom.  Drain the one shot oiler and put in some MMO and pump it up and get the slide ways covered and leadscrews covered too.  Then swithch to way oli, I use Vactra No. 4 in the one shot oiler and pump it in to get the leadscrews and slideways lubed with a thin film boundary lubricant.Fill the oil cups on the head with light spindle oil (I use Mobil Velocide Spindle oil) and let it course through the bearing packs.8 years is a long time for the motor too.  The motor needs greased but you have to pull it to lube it.If I don't get a spray of oil on my shirt when I start my mill, it's not getting proper lubrication.Thats how I do maintenace on all my mills.Nice machine BTW.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120If you want it stored I've got space.....BUT.....I ain't paying the freight......
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120You really need another shed out at the other house....seriously....
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I feel for you with that drive man.Even if you gotta tarp it up tight & cover the ways with axle grease for the winter, still better than getting rid of it. If your current gig ever goes in the can, you may find yourself needing it to make a living. I would never part with a single piece of base machinery I have. Just like my lathe it's a Monarch Model 61 toolmakers lathe that weighs 5K.I hardly ever use it, but when I need it, it's one of the most useful tools I own. That, my mill & everything else stuffed into. 20' X22' garage.When I unexpectedly lost my driving job last year, I had to switch gears & go back to working from home. I'm glad I didn't sell off anything (thought about it), I didn't realize I would end up going back Into the welder fix up business full time again.Hopefully, it will just be a toy you can tinker with on the weekends. Still, a good mill & basic welding equipment in the hands of a guy such as yourself could rival a lot of shops doing basic fab work if it comes down to it. In this economical climate, anything could happen.I'm super grateful I don't have to punch a clock for anyone. At least today.....Nice mill Mike!!
Reply:It is amazing how the tools to make jobs easier make the shop so hard to get in. I would love a mill but only 1/2 of our equipment will fit in the shop the way it is a mill would take it to 1/4Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by endmillEnjoy. Now the fun begins finding tooling ect.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120If you want it stored I've got space.....BUT.....I ain't paying the freight......
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120You really need another shed out at the other house....seriously....
Reply:Well I just got a quote from a machinery mover for $1200 to move the mill 40miles,  break it down, rig it, get it in the basement and re assemble. My little shop in my apartments dungeon basement is a mofo to move anything. Trust me it's a chore, thats why I wanted to use a pro with insurance. Does that sound like a reasonable price to you guys?I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:That's a lot of work to move into a basement.  FWIW you can team carry every part of a Bridgeport minus the base casting if you wanted to do it yourself.  I just got done helping a friend tear down an Index mill in his garage to be cleaned and painted and the two of us lifted everything.  You would just have to get creative with the base.  It comes apart pretty quick: table, saddle, knee, head, turret and base.OTOH, I paid $475 to move two mills  and a surface grinder about 15 miles with no dis-assembly at all.  So that seems about right.  Riggin' ain't cheap.
Reply:Yea, it definitely doesn't hurt to shop around.  Especially with riggers, since they don't really have much overhead and if they aren't moving, they aren't making money.  I found a dude I like, a solo operation and way cheaper than any of the big guys.  He moves everything by hand.  I found some of the bigger places don't want to talk to you if you a) can't come pick it up and drop it off with a fork or b) just need one thing moved.  I think a lot of times they give a huge quote just to get rid of you.
Reply:Originally Posted by kazlxThat's a lot of work to move into a basement.  FWIW you can team carry every part of a Bridgeport minus the base casting if you wanted to do it yourself.  I just got done helping a friend tear down an Index mill in his garage to be cleaned and painted and the two of us lifted everything.  You would just have to get creative with the base.  It comes apart pretty quick: table, saddle, knee, head, turret and base.OTOH, I paid $475 to move two mills  and a surface grinder about 15 miles with no dis-assembly at all.  So that seems about right.  Riggin' ain't cheap.
Reply:Yea, it comes down to if you have the time/energy to take it apart.  If you are going to clean it and paint anyway, might be worth it to break it down and move it yourself.  If you want to just have it going from point a to b and not lift a finger, bend over
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Get a couple more quotes and try and bust them down a bit.When I bought the Pacific pan brake, I had it transported from Brisbane to the shop (around 80 clicks) for $150.00.....of course, that was few years ago....
Reply:I know I've seen a slick write up on moving a mill into a basement... so I searched google and found this one that I'd never seen. Check out the guys trailer made of wood... being towed by a tercel. pure awesomeness. http://bridgeport.askmisterscience.com/bridgeport.htmI've moved several... but never into the basement. It looks like a good deal at $1200 bucks considering the prep and rigging required. Of course... I'm too cheap... I'd likely do it myself.BTW... I didn't find the one I was looking for but the method was similar. Here a video of some guys moving one. Nice time lapse... bet it took longer than 10 minutes.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireI know I've seen a slick write up on moving a mill into a basement... so I searched google and found this one that I'd never seen. Check out the guys trailer made of wood... being towed by a tercel. pure awesomeness. http://bridgeport.askmisterscience.com/bridgeport.htmI've moved several... but never into the basement. It looks like a good deal at $1200 bucks considering the prep and rigging required. Of course... I'm too cheap... I'd likely do it myself.BTW... I didn't find the one I was looking for but the method was similar. Here a video of some guys moving one. Nice time lapse... bet it took longer than 10 minutes.
Reply:I helped a friend of mine move his full sided Bridgeport into his basement. We took the back patio doors out of the living room, rolled up the carpet and cut a hole in the floor so he could crane it in with a gin pole rig on an old wrecker he had. Once down in the basement on rollers we rolled it over to where he wanted it, jacked it up, pulled out the rollers and set it down. Then went back and reframed the living room floor...Couldn't tell he was a bachelor could you... .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan