Moving a Series 1.R2E3 (with a minivan)

[wcarrothers1]

Well I have some pics (should have taken a pic of the 2 cabinets and control pannel as that was a tight fit. That had to go in through the side. Didn't want to split the 2 since that would have been a wireing nitemare..

Anywho have a few pictures but basicly proved that 1 man a cherry picker (and a 6 year old from time to time) 3 year old was also with me. So that limited space in the van. Also sucked having to pack the cheery picker each time I moved the Van..

Just so there isn't to much suspence.. I've got a walk out basement..hehee

Have some pics but should have taken more but they are in the camara at work.

So far I have the main base, cabinets and the top of the turret has made it to the basement.

Heck of a thing moving something that big. I know some probably think that is crazy but I get a kick out of moving big things on my own while I still can (few years a go I moved the 4 post lift from the company I worked for (who when bankrupt) to my house all on my own..hehe

Just a matter of engenious use of jacks../

But anyway when assembling the top and putting the spindle head back on should any oil or anything be applied between the surfaces? or should they be dry? Just wondering.

I'll post some move pics tomorrow got to figure out where It's going in the shop to....

b./

[wcarrothers1]

Anyway to give more detail...

Saturday
Servos removed, Assorted electrical and air unpluged.

Trip 1 Coolant catch pan removed and taken home
Trip 2 Spindle was removed from the turret by cherry picker, Loaded in to car with cherry picker and taken home
Trip 3 Table and knee holder removed in one piece.
Trip 4 Turret removed and cherry picker loaded into car and taken home
Trip 5 Main base separated from cabinets, cherry picker loaded back into car and taken home.

Sunday
trip 6 Lowered cabinets off shims with cherry picker and return cherry picker to home
trip 7 Cleaned cabinets up a bit bubble wrapped the display shrunk wrapped the different wires and air out of the way (marked them with blue painters tape labels). loaded the cabinets in through side door of mini van (so the cabinets are resting on the front of the servo drive cabinet (only way it would fit.)) wheeled to side of car on refridgerator dolly then set on crate and pulled in through door with come alont attached to pole on out side of car (dual slide doors are great.)
Turned the cabinets to sit long ways with the display faceing the rear, Reinstall seats and car seats put kids back into car and head home.

cabinets pulled back out of van with wench on tractor.. and onto refridgerator dolly.

So in theory I could have removed the thing from where it was rather then having the rigger take it the 10 miles from the auction to my office. But had no idea if I could dissassemble it. So basicly it cost me a few 100 to have it moved in 1 piece to a location I could plug it in as it was to check everything out before taking appart. Probably worth it so I can be sure at least it worked before I moved it so I'm not chaseing problems that weren't or were there.

And that is about it

My work is only like 10 miles away

This would have been a LOT easier if I had a cherry picker at my office and at home..hehe

Wonder how many others have moved their bridge port by them selves...

As I get older I think I have to make a few new friends that can help me with crazy stuff like this..hehe

b.

[awemawson]

Picture? I see no pictures, where are they????

[wcarrothers1]

Here are some pictures.

As I said I should have wipped the camara out when the 2 cabinets and display ended up fitting in the minivan (long version montana) with the second row seats (and 2 kids) inside) But hay..

I should have taken more pictures with the machine loaded in the van and such. sorry. gave my 6 year old the carge of taking the over all progress pictures. (most of the other ones were close up details and stuff)

But the one of the auto draw bar impact thing. Can some one tell me if this is a bridgeport draw bar or some other brand.

b.

[HelicopterJohn]

Nice job on the transporting of your machine.

I'll bet that van really was low on the springs when you loaded the base of that machine.

Dis-assembly of the machine is probably not a bad idea. A good time to clean it up and check all the automatic lubrication fittings while you have it apart. You could also check the backlash on all the ball screws and install appropriate shims while you have it disassembled. Also adjust the gibs to get any unnecessary play out of the table. I am not familiar with your particular control but you will probably want to do a tune up on the servos as well to get maximun performance from your machine.

The automatic draw bar setup looks like a CP 3/8" butterfly ratchet that has been modified for use on your machine. I don't know if it would have been supplied by Bridgeport or not. Others here would probably be able to verify that for you. There is a guy on the forums that makes an aftermarket unit similar to that for use on Bridgeports.

Have fun!

John

[wcarrothers1]

Van has air ride adjust so it was not that bad..hehe Just took it slow. That base is pretty darn heavy. have to jack it up inorder to get it to it's balance point for moveing. Just hope I can pick a spot in the basement easy and don't end up moving it around different places to visualize where it should go..hehe

Thanks for the info on the draw bar. I was only curious because I was already asked if it was an actual bridgeport unit or not. As I guess maybe the actual bridgeport units are better maybe. This one seems to work so I'm not to worried. Sure seems nice compared to manual..hehe

I got the table off in 1 complete piece (as shown) so really I just have to clean and lube the table gib's and put it back on. The table seems to be in good shape except for the X gib which has the end cracked off but the screws seem to have little/no slack and turn nice. I'm not 100% sure if I will take the table appart or just run it like it is.. Probably would be best to do that though. Just about everything could use a good cleaning I suppose..

[awemawson]

When I bought my manual Bridgeport (1969 m/c belt head) I got them to lower it onto my single axle trailer at roughly the balance point as one unit, and towed it home with my Volvo 240 estate (it was a few years back). Unloading consisted of reversing under a suitable beam, and re-inforcing the beam with an Acrow Prop either side of the trailer. My 1/2 ton block and tackle managed to lift the 3/4 ton Bridgeport quite happily and then I just drove the trailer forwards. All done single handed, with nobody at any time under the load or at risk.

Mind you it was quite a sight seeing the Bridgeport hanging from a beam is the garage as though life was too much and it had topped itself!

[wcarrothers1]

hehe...

I could have perhaps loaded it on a trailer but didn't have one avaliable or at least one with that amount of weight. And no way to offload it (once in trailer it would have been to high to pick it appart with the cherry picker.)

So other then the $$ spent getting it the 11 miles to my building for dissassembly moving was free..

All the major pieces are now in the house. How ever is the table and knee of the table were any wider (sideways laying on the angled front) were any wider (32.5 inches) it would have not made it through my door..

now have to pick a spot for it to be for the next 25 years and set it back up

b.

[wcarrothers1]

Just about set back up.

Hopefully will apply power this weekend and see if anything didn't survive the trip... And maybe run some G code into it.

b.

[wcarrothers1]

If anyone has any quick how to's on Gib adjustement I could probably learn a thing or 2 about that.. as well.

b.