Went to look at a used Bridgeport today.....

[pete from TN]

It is a series 1 2hp unit with a boss 8 cnc control unit that is throwing an error code. The machine says it has nearly 200 hours on it but it looks very good. The ways are clean and show little signs of wear. Apparently it was in a vocational school before the owner bought it. He said that he thought it was a bad capacitor that was causing the machine to code out. Apparently it did it to him before. It has a small enclosure around the table which is 9x42. It was not even able to power up the spindle due to the code out 2000 I think it said. Is this machine something to look seriously at or run away from. I like that it is a series one which would fit a little better in my shop and already cnc as opposed to my current idea of converting my Lathemaster Bedmill to cnc. But I am NO electronics expert. The control panel is on a long arm and was recently replaced and all the lights and readouts seemed to be functioning. I think I can get it for around $4K as it sits. He said it is around a late eighties model. Would this be a decent price for this machine and what kinda money would I possibly be looking at to get it working? Would love to put this thing in my shop!! He also said he would throw in a bunch of quick change cat40(I think) tooling and some other stuff as well as some software he purchased for the mill when he bought it three years ago. The machine has been sitting in his shop unused for nearly two years. Looking for some advice, thanks in advance guys...Peace..

Pete Matos
Matospeter@charter.net
865-363-9218

[jeep534]

4k seems a bit high in my opinion. that machine should have steppers and would make a good conversion candidate for retrofit to mach 3 with one of Hillbilly's Interface boards and instructions. He is on the Mach3 boards and lives near knoxville as does poppabear who is also on the mach forums.

artsoft controls has a website
there is a mach3 board on CNC zone
and one on yahoo as well

I guess what I am saying is 4k is a lot to me and if I were to purchase that machine I would plan to convert it to PC control with Mach 3.

I am currently working on a Boss9 servo machine model R2E4 that I traded for because it is a servo machine it is more diffacult /expensive to retrofit. with the stepper machine you can re use some of the electronics.

also the spindle on that machine would be either NMTB30 or quick switch 200
tooling,

Happy Hunting
archie =) =) =)

[pete from TN]

It has a 40 taper quick change tooling too. It has precision ballscrews that are covered by some kinda round casing. It also has a rs232 port for input from a PC and takes whatever code you input there. I also think it is a little high at 4k mostly because it is not working, but if it was it would be much more unfortunately. It has a power oiling system, onboard coolant, it has a pneumatic tool release and a table enclosure. I should have taken some pics of the machine. I dunno what is wrong with the electronics but the mill looks sweet other than some normal cleanup. Even the paint looks good.

[jeep534]

It has a 40 taper quick change tooling too. It has precision ballscrews that are covered by some kinda round casing. It also has a rs232 port for input from a PC and takes whatever code you input there. I also think it is a little high at 4k mostly because it is not working, but if it was it would be much more unfortunately. It has a power oiling system, onboard coolant, it has a pneumatic tool release and a table enclosure. I should have taken some pics of the machine. I dunno what is wrong with the electronics but the mill looks sweet other than some normal cleanup. Even the paint looks good.

Pete the series 1 machines were 30 taper not 40 at least the ones I have seen
the series II machines weighed about 6000 pounds series 1 about 3200 pounds
is this machine a Bridgeport series1 R2E3 a very old photo of my machine is posted here Brodgeport Boss9 R2E4 with the covers removed http://jeep534.smugmug.com/gallery/1...09121026_graap

I am currently in the middle o a retrofit using Mach 3 and Larken viper servo drives.

Hope this Helps
archie =) =) =)

[CASTLEVILLE]

I think 4000 is high. I picked up a series 1 with a heidenhain 151b control with a bum monitor for under a grand. If you are willing to travel a little bit I think you could find a series 1 for a lot better price.

[123CNC]

I too think it is tooo high, considering the non-functional controls. If you could put it to work today, and needed too (and he was including a vise and a good amount of tool holders, maybe some tools and all the manuals and diagrams and a working RS232 cable with DNC software). And he could run parts to demostrate functionality and tolerance capability. Well then I might have to think about it.

[Kevin Taylor]

Peat The series II have box way's on the Y axis I'v heard of problems with the power drawbar on a R24E wich this sound's like post some pic's and we will try to help George 'Machinetec " is real good on old BPT's Check the lube level The old boss machines would lock up if the lube is low and most don't show a code that will tell what to look for If you can jog the XY&Z in set up and power the spindel up you should be able to get it to run I don't think you can do G1 feed moves with out the spindel active Good luck Kevin

[wcarrothers1]

Don't know..

I got my R2V3 Boss 10 machine at auction on word from the company forman that it was working when they unpluged it (cord was cut so could not power up)..

got it for 1K. Powered it up after dissassembly (4-5 pieces) to get home and it works for the most part 100%. Much better then what I expected for the 1K. It is a servo machine and I was going to do a mach conversion to it (since my other machines are all mach) but turned out the controls work so why gut a perfectly working machine?

I got plenty of tooling to. Uasually they used to bid the bits separate from the machine but lately it's been all or nothing. I got lucky. Most people don't think much about these machines I think. (overheard a lot of "those are just trouble" comments while at the auction preview..) but again I was not expecting much for 1k and ended up getting a great machine which will serve my hobbies for a long time I think. Still find my self druling over the shiney new bridgeport CNC's at the local tool store but that is 1K vs 20+K..hehe

So I'd say 4k for something not working is way to much. He would never get it so I'd keep looking. Bad cap.. If its bad at least tell him to call you when it's fixed. If its been sitting because of this I'd bet the limit switches are stuck (as mine were) to.. These machines don't do to much till they are homed for the first time after power up.

b.