Need Help!- Can a Bridgeport Turret Mill be CNC Converted?

[JQ_Quint]

Can anyone pass advice..

If I bought a manual Bridgeport Turret Mill (1 metre (X) bed ish size) could I convert it to be cnc controlled?

If so is the Z axis table controlled or the quill?

Still haven't bought a mill yet still looking at viable options between bridgeport or benchtop mill.

Thanks
J.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by JQ_Quint Can anyone pass advice.. If I bought a manual Bridgeport Turret Mill (1 metre (X) bed ish size) could I convert it to be cnc controlled? If so is the Z axis table controlled or the quill? Still haven't bought a mill yet still looking at viable options between bridgeport or benchtop mill. Thanks J.

Within reason, anything can be converted. I might even do my band saw because this diy cnc is addictive.

My recomendation is to retrofit an existing cnc machine as opposed to converting a manual machine. If you can find a suitable canidate

Se my build here

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66994

[JQ_Quint]

Is this because costs will spiral?
Trouble i'm having is that the cnc machines are out of my price range to start with..
I guess I was hoping to buy a cheaper manual and convert in my own time..

What would be your suggested cnc machine (again around the 1 metre table length).

Thanks
J.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by JQ_Quint Is this because costs will spiral?

Decent ball screws in itself can cost a bundle, Nook used to do a conversion set, including the 'dogbone' cross over, and these were rolled and not precision ground, I am not sure if they still carry this, also I see you are in the UK so it may not be available there.
I also think you would be better off getting an existing CNC to retrofit, a lot of the mechanical work is already done.
My personal preference is to CNC the quill, not the knee, not if you want Z rapids.
And as with any machine, bigger is usually better for rigidity etc.
Al.

[austin.mn]

I definitely have to agree with "TotallyRc", you will save a bundle of both time and money updating a cnc machine. The basic fact is there are a bunch of old bridgeport boss cnc machines around that are just not operational because the controls went out. I bought a '78 boss 3 that had that issue for scrap price. The guy just wanted it out of the way. I then bought some motor drives on ebay that would run the original motors and hooked it all up to a pc with Mach 3. I have less into that machine than I would have had into just buying a worn out bridgeport manual mill.

I don't know if there is a craigslist in your area or any other free classifieds but that is were I would look first.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by JQ_Quint Is this because costs will spiral? Trouble i'm having is that the cnc machines are out of my price range to start with.. I guess I was hoping to buy a cheaper manual and convert in my own time.. What would be your suggested cnc machine (again around the 1 metre table length). Thanks J.

I am unaware of the costs of stuff in the UK.
Here in the USA the cost of ball screws are as much as a used mill.
A cnc mill in need of a retrofit will take about 50% of the time required to convert a manual mill.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Man Decent ball screws in itself can cost a bundle, Nook used to do a conversion set, including the 'dogbone' cross over, and these were rolled and not precision ground, I am not sure if they still carry this, also I see you are in the UK so it may not be available there. I also think you would be better off getting an existing CNC to retrofit, a lot of the mechanical work is already done. My personal preference is to CNC the quill, not the knee, not if you want Z rapids. And as with any machine, bigger is usually better for rigidity etc. Al.

My machine has a cnc quill and will rapid at 200 ipm. It would be very tough to move the knee that fast without spending a fortune.

Originally Posted by austin.mn I definitely have to agree with "TotallyRc", you will save a bundle of both time and money updating a cnc machine. The basic fact is there are a bunch of old bridgeport boss cnc machines around that are just not operational because the controls went out. I bought a '78 boss 3 that had that issue for scrap price. The guy just wanted it out of the way. I then bought some motor drives on ebay that would run the original motors and hooked it all up to a pc with Mach 3. I have less into that machine than I would have had into just buying a worn out bridgeport manual mill. I don't know if there is a craigslist in your area or any other free classifieds but that is were I would look first.

Again as we are in the USA and you are in the UK, we don't know what the used market is like, but I would look hard and long for a used cnc that is basically sound except for the electronics.

I already had a manual bridgeport mill in my work shop and I went out and bought a used cnc machine. When I am done, I will sell it for more room.

[JQ_Quint]

Guys,

Thankyou all for your responses.

It makes plenty of sense, I'm kicking myself because I missed a bargain bridgeport cnc on ebay the other day...

But I will continue my search.

(problem is i am a sucker for the old quality manual machines, more of a nostalgia thing i guess)

Thanks
J.

[austin.mn]

ideally J, you really will want to have both machines. There is a lot of work for the hobbiest that is easily done on a manual machine. Squaring blocks in prep for cnc machining them is one thing that comes to mind, and of course the occasional hole that just needs to be drilled or bored. So if there is any way that you can swing it get one of each, a manual bridgeport and a cnc bridgeport. They will both get used. Heck even a small mill/drill is a handy machine for a lot of work. But definitely try and find yourself a good old cnc machine with burnt out controls, pick up some drives and hook a pc to it. The whole job of getting it up and running can easily be done in an afternoon. Another plus of the old bridgeport boss cnc machine is that the spindle is only 2HP, which means you can just pick up a VFD off ebay to serve as your phase converter.

Keep us posted on what you get.

Austin

[JQ_Quint]

Austin,

Every post received from the guys on here is so helpful and is enabling me to finally tweak my intended direction..so thankyou..

Anyway a couple more Bridgeport queries..

You and many people make ref to the Boss machine? Is this a model of the bridgeport range or a nickname for the control? Is it a different machine to the series one or two? and also where does the interact model come into it?

Purely down to size it seems a series 2 is easily big enough for my needs but is massive, I would prefer a series 1, but I need 490mm in X axis travel. Is the series one big enough to do this?

What is a VFD? Is it some sort of small invertor?

And finally - I had a quote to hiab a series 2 about 60 miles to my house. They quoted £500 ! Is it possible to split these machines so I could lift them with a engine hoist into a pickup?

Sorry for loads of questions but I know you guys love it !

Thanks
J.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by JQ_Quint Austin, Every post received from the guys on here is so helpful and is enabling me to finally tweak my intended direction..so thankyou.. Anyway a couple more Bridgeport queries.. You and many people make ref to the Boss machine? Is this a model of the bridgeport range or a nickname for the control? Is it a different machine to the series one or two? and also where does the interact model come into it? Purely down to size it seems a series 2 is easily big enough for my needs but is massive, I would prefer a series 1, but I need 490mm in X axis travel. Is the series one big enough to do this? What is a VFD? Is it some sort of small invertor? And finally - I had a quote to hiab a series 2 about 60 miles to my house. They quoted £500 ! Is it possible to split these machines so I could lift them with a engine hoist into a pickup? Sorry for loads of questions but I know you guys love it ! Thanks J.

I don't know if I love all the questions, but I enjoy returning some of the help I have recieved over the years.

Boss = Bridgeport operating system I believe. Someone else will have all of the rest of the details.

A VFD= variable frequency drive. Many of them will input 1 phase power and output 3 phase power. Plus you can vary the speed of the motor with just the twist of a knob or tie it in to the cnc control and us an S word ( not SH$T) in the code and it will run the spindle at the programed speed.
I have taken apart 1 full sized bridgeports with my heavy duty engine crane and reassembled 2. Be careful and don't overload it. The other option is to call the local towing company. Have them quote you on a delivery using a flat bed, or rollback as it is called.
See my posting here

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66994

That machine only has 18" of x travel (457mm) so it will be a little small for your needs, but check the sizes before you buy. It is actually a little to small for me but the tool changer was just too good to pass up for the price.

I have a run of parts to do that I will have to fixture twice because the distance between hole is 24"

[JQ_Quint]

TotallyRc,

Just to confirm, your machine then is a series 1 machine?
If so yikes, a series 2 is going to cause me major problems..

J.

[TOTALLYRC]

Originally Posted by JQ_Quint TotallyRc, Just to confirm, your machine then is a series 1 machine? If so yikes, a series 2 is going to cause me major problems.. J.

Mine is a BTC-1 which is based on a series one rigid ram machine. The major difference being that it has a 24 position tool changer and a 3hp spindle motor.
The series 2 looks to be a serious piece of cast iron

Mike