how convert this bad-boy

Nick C · 09-20-2002, 01:23 PM

Yo.

I've recently got this (pictured) milling machine going, it's a Bridgeport industrial mill... very big and powerful... used to make
these: http://www.hardwarereviewed.com/vdhtt/

anyway, I wanted to possibly covert this thing to CNC... It already has a Servo-powered X asis (you push a lever in one direction or another)... doing the Z axis is gonna be hard though.. it sticks out diagonally below the Y axis handle...

Anyway, what equipment would I need for it? (how big of motors, etC)

bigben2k · 09-20-2002, 01:42 PM

We just went through this recently with our master CNC'er!

click me!

Your first objective will be to come up with a mounting bracket, and I mean one that is secured nicely. It's hard to tell from your pic what challenge you're facing.

Off-hand, you might have to consider extending one of the handles to this new mounting bracket.

Nick C · 09-20-2002, 02:36 PM

I read that, all I want to know is how powerful of motors I should get. It has places I can bolt to for the motor (exept on the Z axis, but I think I can rig something up for that)

you think some 1000 Oz motors? it's pretty hard to turn...

oh, another thing (which may make it so I can't do it at all) it has about 3/4 of a turn worth of slop in the gib... is there a parameter to set to compensate for this?

Fixittt · 09-20-2002, 05:58 PM

Nick there are countless NC conversions for bridgeport mills on the market. I dont know about true CNC but you can do NC (Numericll controlled) anyways. I would do a search for bridgeport conversions.

LiquidRulez · 09-20-2002, 08:03 PM

bridgeports are good machines to convert atleast that what i hear.
if the axis' are that hard to turn, it probably wouldnt hurt to take it apart(provided you can put it back together the same way it came apart) and give it a thorough cleaning while inpecting the parts' condition then give it a good greasing and all should be ok.
as far as converting it goes, anythings possible if you think about it hard enough

Volenti · 09-21-2002, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LiquidRulez
bridgeports are good machines to convert atleast that what i hear.
if the axis' are that hard to turn, it probably wouldnt hurt to take it apart(provided you can put it back together the same way it came apart) and give it a thorough cleaning while inpecting the parts' condition then give it a good greasing and all should be ok.
as far as converting it goes, anythings possible if you think about it hard enough

reminds me of the motto we have at work (Car audio install shop) "Given enough time and money, Anything is possible"

09-20-2002, 01:42 PM	#2
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	We just went through this recently with our master CNC'er! click me! Your first objective will be to come up with a mounting bracket, and I mean one that is secured nicely. It's hard to tell from your pic what challenge you're facing. Off-hand, you might have to consider extending one of the handles to this new mounting bracket. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

09-20-2002, 05:58 PM	#4
Fixittt CNC Beyatch Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tulsa Spell it backwards Posts: 721	Nick there are countless NC conversions for bridgeport mills on the market. I dont know about true CNC but you can do NC (Numericll controlled) anyways. I would do a search for bridgeport conversions. __________________ Creator of the Spir@l Block Longest post ever http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&postid=43808#post43808

09-20-2002, 02:36 PM	#3
Nick C Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: OREGON Posts: 62	I read that, all I want to know is how powerful of motors I should get. It has places I can bolt to for the motor (exept on the Z axis, but I think I can rig something up for that) you think some 1000 Oz motors? it's pretty hard to turn... oh, another thing (which may make it so I can't do it at all) it has about 3/4 of a turn worth of slop in the gib... is there a parameter to set to compensate for this?

09-20-2002, 08:03 PM	#5
LiquidRulez Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In Hell Posts: 322	bridgeports are good machines to convert atleast that what i hear. if the axis' are that hard to turn, it probably wouldnt hurt to take it apart(provided you can put it back together the same way it came apart) and give it a thorough cleaning while inpecting the parts' condition then give it a good greasing and all should be ok. as far as converting it goes, anythings possible if you think about it hard enough

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