Local Bridgeport Series 1 manual mill, worth buying to convert to cnc?

[daconfusion]

I found a local seller of a series 1 bridgeport mill:

Bridgeport Milling Machine


I was originally saving up for a PM 45 /RF45 style benchtop mill. If I can buy local and convert to CNC, I rather go with a good platform.


I am seeing posts that hint converting a manual knee mill (BP) to CNC is not worth it.

Is that true? Are there kits available?

Money (initial start up) is an issue, which is why I want to go manual first and convert.

Thanks for help in advance.

[TarHeelTom]

I'd go see the machine first, before you even try to start to make a decision. Is it really a nice machine? How much backlash? etc?

I bought a bigger (2hp) CNC Series 1 Bp for about $2000, and am spending a bit over $1000 to update it to modern electronics, Geckos, PC, emc2, etc.

You're going to have a bit more money in that one, as you probably need to buy some big steppers and ball screws, not to mention making lots and lots of brackets to mount things.

The up side is that you'd have a decent mill available to make those parts....

Tom

[daconfusion]

I do not mind spending 2k if the machine is already CNC, and only requires an update on its respective components.


Does anyone know of local sellers near Houston, TX that can source that kind of deal?

[thedave]

I'm in Houston and that Bridgeport has been listed for a while now I think since December. Don't know if that means anything about the condition of the machine. I Don't know anything about Bridgeports so I cant help you there. I do know that they tend to move fairly fast at that price, so check it out good.

[TarHeelTom]

Originally Posted by daconfusion I do not mind spending 2k if the machine is already CNC, and only requires an update on its respective components. Does anyone know of local sellers near Houston, TX that can source that kind of deal?

Best source I've found is Craigslist. You need to check several editions daily. It would seem reasonable to drive to San Antonio, or Dallas, or Ft Worth, for example to pick up a good deal. And from my limited knowledge of Texas manufacturing geography, I'd suspect that there are a lot more machines, with a lot less rust, to be found in the DFW area than elsewhere.

Tom

[daconfusion]

Tom:

Didnt you want to sell me your set up?

lol



Also, how did you manage to ship or transport your mill to your location?

I dont have a truck, what is the most economical way to move a mill from DFW or San Antonio if it came down to that?

[daconfusion]

Also, how practical is it to buy the machine posted originally for the sole purpose of converting to CNC?


Is it the most economical route?


Or in the end, would it have been cheaper to have gone with maybe a bench-top mill with CNC conversion?

[gus]

a BOSS machine is usually cheaper than a manual bridgeport, has ballscrews and mounts etc. pretty much a no brainer

[rlwoodjr]

Craigslist is great, that is where I found mine, I had to wait for several months before I found one close enough and worth the money.

The guy I brought mine from delivered it for free. I have a little less than $2500 into it (geckos, power supply and phase converter...etc.). I use TurboCnc...

Mine is at:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/bridge...tml#post902991

I think that the CNC version would be worth waiting for. Easy to say now that I am not waiting.

[ichudov]

I would be very skeptical of converting a manual mill to CNC.

CNCs need many things that manual mills lack, like multiple lube points, electric luber, ball screws, limit switches, etc. Huge hassle and expense to add one. Just trinkets alone (limit switches etc) will cost a lot of $$$. Motorizing a Bridgeport quill is a pain.

I bought a CNC Bridgeport for $500 because it had a dead control. Refitting it with EMC was quite a bit of work, because I knew nothing about CNC when I started, but I had all the hardware right there, ready to be used. Plus it has box ways.

i

[daconfusion]

I found a Bridgeport BOSS 5:

"
Genuine Bridgeport Boss 5 CNC Mill.

Standard Bridgeport Knee Mill type Ram.

Was running when removed from service, but has sat for last 10 years in my garage.

2hp QC30 Spindle, 3-phase

Was going to retrofit it with new cnc controls but have never done anything with it.

Pics can be sent to interested parties.

Full set of Bridgeport manuals. "


He is asking 3000$ for it. Ad has been up for a while...hope it is still for sale. I dont have 3k, and I am hoping it is not worth that much.

Without going into the condition of the machine, what would I expect to pay for the machine just based off this description?

I am going to assume the seller cannot show much this machine running under power, and his word saying it worked 10 years ago is nothing. Wires corrode...mice move in..etc

Thanks for the replies so far...I am really falling for a BOSS as I read more.

[skullworks]

The big question is does it come with any of that QC30 (most likely its NMTB 30) tooling. That is the big deal maker.

When I bought my Hurco KM3P knee mill I also got a 6" Kurt and huge pile of tool holders and the 10HP rated phase converter for no extra cost.

If it does then the next question is moving cost.

I know when I found my deal it was a beg/borrow/steal what ever it took to make it happen event. There were machines closer - but what I got as the total package made the 1800 mile (one way) trip to fetch it, the $800 rigging fees to get it out of the building and loaded on our trailer and the basic cost of the machine seem like a steal.