I am looking to start my own small home machine shop. I learned how to mill on a Bridgeport knee mill. I was wondering how expensive a new Bridgeport mill would be? or are there other brands that are just as good which are less expensive? I really only need 3-axis, but may possibly add an indexer over time.
Thanks
A new manual BP is around $13K. With Chrome ways $16K if I recall.
Scott
Consistency is a good thing....unless you're consistently an idiot.
What do you think of the Trak Mills by Southerwestern Industries in comparrison to the Bridgeports?
No experience with those, sorry.
Anyone else?
Scott
Consistency is a good thing....unless you're consistently an idiot.
don't ignore a good used unit. This is a less expensive option when initial cash out lay may be a problem (for a new business) You'd pay a little over half for a good used one 8-9k
Just my thoughts.
peace
EIDT: bad spelling
9 1/2
B.C.I.T. Machinist CNC
Squale,
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I just went to the SW website and the Trak mills look to be imported BP clones. You can get a cnc'ed one for around $16 K. Might be good units, but I think that they are imports.
Ron
Squale,
A friend of mine is a dealer and also a user of the Track mills. He uses his daily and is very happy and has not had any problems..
If you can swing a cnc bp or clone you will be very glad you did.
chad
what is a cnc bp?
BP = Bridgeport.
I think you know what CNC means....
Scott
Consistency is a good thing....unless you're consistently an idiot.
All depends on what you want to do I guess.
The local shop has cnc'd BP's for 25K or maybe a little less. They are clean and look really nice and have modern drives. and handles for manual use (something I wish mine had)
How ever I got my r2v3 for 1/25th the price. Basicly all the guts of a bridgeport with drives for cnc. Course I might be a lucky one who happened to get one that is in full working order with tooling. But if you just want a regular BP look around for a local auction or something. That is sometimes the cheepest way to get a BP.. And how I'd get one if I needed another.
b.
Here is your BP pricing
http://www.hardingequotes.com/index.asp?machID=23
Here is a great bolt-on CNC package
http://www.fagor-automation.com/Prod...CNCPackage.htm
www.integratedmechanical.ca
If you look into it the bridgeports are made in Asia now as well. That's why there's hardly anyone left at Hardinge. Those were the last to go.
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