What Mill? Bridgeport or...

[Com]

Well at the moment im trying to figure out which mill to save up for. Im in the process of selling my cnc'ed micro mill as it was way to small. I've been looking at second hand bridgeport series 1 mills locally ranging from around £750 to £1500 although i don't really know much about the condition of these machines yet. I've also been looking at the Warco VM-20 Milling machine (http://www.warco.co.uk/shop.asp?catid=40&ProdId=104). I'm primarily looking at constructing paintball parts and figured a nice large machine would leave me room to do whatever i wanted really. WHich of these 2 machines would be better for what i want to do?

Im also thinking about buying a Myford Ml7 for £550 which has been only lightly used, is this a good deal?

[Com]

After abit more reasearch i think that other mill is a bridgeport clone, or is a bridgeport? I was also looking at wabeco mills and i was wondering what would i get better accuracy out of - a bridgeport or a webeco any thoughts? Only reason i ask is i know webecos are built to a high accuracy but they weigh very little.

[NC Cams]

Generally speaking, mass usually equates with rigidity and the ability to resist distortion when making heavy cuts. I can't speak for Webeco as I've never seen one.

I have both a Bridgeport and an import grade clone. The clone was found to have been shimmed with paper/cardboard so as to make the knee adjustment gear mesh properly. Plastic body filler was used to spruce things up (we found this out when we took it appart to get it into the basement). Makes you wonder where else they skimped.....

Obtaining parts can be a pain with some imports as they can vary from batch to batch. Instructions can usually be in chopped up English which is hard to understand. I'd be disinclined to trust any "accuracy certification" - Mine simply did NOT match the cert papers.

IF you consider the import to be a DIY work in progress, you can turn them into a pretty good piece if you know how to shim, move and cajole machinery.

The choice between a "tired" Bridgeport and a new import is easy - the import.

IF you can verify the integrity of the Bridgeport, I'd go that way. Why??? It was designed for a 100% duty cycle in a shop environment and it is worth saving/restoring rebuilding. The imported parts are generally considered "throw away" machines.

Thus, if one had to choose between a used Bridgeport with "character" that does not have unevenly worn ways or trashed out ball screws and a new import, I'd go with the Bridgeport.

Besides, at some point the Bridgeport prices stop deteriorating. Thus, you can EASILY get your money back out of it if you have to sell it, especially if you simply clean and paint and adjust it properly. I don't see that as being possible with a used import....

Moreover, the Bridgeport market extends to DIY'ers, small machine shops, hobbyists, generally every level of the industry/hobby. The imports will generally NOT have a resale potential outside of the hobby and/or price shoppers market.

BTW: we tuned up our Bridgeport EZTRAK with new ball screw bearings, rebuilt ball screws and a gib tune-up adjustment and can hold tolerances to within 0.0001" when we machine a master plate as compared to a CNC ground master - all else was left "stock" and the machine was built in 1995. My clone couldn't do that when it was brand new....

[Com]

Thanks, i'll definatly have to take a better look at those bridgeprots then. Out of interest anyone have any experince with the wabeco machines?