Need Help!- VMC-760 Need drawbar & tool carasoul

[Bwana Don]

Does anyone know where I can get a drawbar for a 1993 VMC-760 Bridgeport Vertical Machining Center? Also need the tool carasoul.

We bought this machine new in 1993 and have run the hell out of it since. It made us a lot of money but now is in jepordy of becoming scrap. The tool carasoul (changer that holds the tools) is broken and Hardinge want $9,000 for a new one! We still have 7 tool pots to use so we can limp along this way.

To make matters worse we crashed the machine hard. Broke the tool stud and bent the drawbar. Also tore up the taper inside of the spindle. This is quoted at $5000. The drawbar is $1500 of this.

I would like to repair the machine on the cheap. It could be used for R & D projects in a year or two when we buy a new machine. Otherwise I need to buy a used machine now. No money at the moment for new.

Any suggestions for finding parts? Thanks in advance for any responses.

[gus]

I have many spare BT tool pockets for the 22 tool carousel, if that is what it uses.

You may want to look at another machine, as they are not that expensive these days

[Bwana Don]

We are looking at used machines and there are some real bargains out there. I think this machine is going down. If we don't get a solution in a week or so then we'll need to do something. We have 3 machines running 2 shifts. When one goes down there goes a third of your capacity.

[Bwana Don]

We are getting a drawbar machined up. The spindle taper is getting reground as well. Total cost is $4700 total. This machine should be back up and running in 2-3 weeks.

Gus, we need the whole tool carrige. The one that rotates and holds the tools. It is a 16 tool carousel. I hope I'm describing this well enough. It's an aluminum casting about 20" in diameter, has pockets in it for holding the tools. Keys bolt into it for orientation of the toolholders.

I can post a picture if anyone thinks they have one for me.

[gus]

Ah, must be different from the 22 tool[that I have] In the 22 the pockets pop together to form the carousel. then 4 or 5 long bolts hold it up to the pivot assembly

[gus]

there is a similar machine on ebay for like 9k, in MO I think