What is it?

[Asymetric]

I have been looking for an afordable mill for a long time, and i jumped on an oportunity. I buy the parts and replace the balljoints and tierod ends on my boss's truck and its mine.

The base casting is a bridgeport with the integrated coolant sump. The knee and saddle are unlike anything i have seen. Instead of regular ways, it has linear slides. Ballscrews on x and y. The top casting is also different. Never heard of AEC. The dovetails are alot wider then a regular bridgeport and it is just a flat face to bolt somthing on to. It comes with a working 2 horse head, but i dont even know if it will bolt up. If it does, there wont be any provision to nod or rotate the head. Not a big deal to me right now.

It satoutside for thelast 6 weeks in the rain and snow, but is still in fair overall condition. Have not put an indicator on anything, but there is no lash in either screw that i can tell by rotating them with my hand.

I figure, i can easily make an adapter plate to mount the bridgeport head and allow rotation, but im really curious about where this machine came from and what was originally mounted for a head. Ive seen ton of bridgeports and knockoffs, but nothing like this.

[HawkJET]

Originally Posted by Asymetric It sat outside for the last 6 weeks in the rain and snow

This is not a good sign. The linear slides will be shot from rust. There is a reason you are getting this for very little. It is such an odd ball....

[Asymetric]

Originally Posted by HawkJET This is not a good sign. The linear slides will be shot from rust. There is a reason you are getting this for very little. It is such an odd ball....

While its not ideal, the slides are not shot. There are areas that have no rust at all and the areas that the water got through the grime, are not pitted at all. It took almost zero effort with a scotchbrite pad today to clean them up and they still have a decent shine to them. The ways for the knee is what really got hit hard by the rust.

Right now, i have no mill so anything is better then nothing. I was just hoping someone had seen somthing similar before. I dont know how it compares to a regular bridgeport for rigidity, but i like the idea that i can completely rebuild it if it is worn out.