How do you break a Bridgeport beyond repair in normal use?

[MattH]

https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/n...SLi9diBzrGTwXLF5GtwUH9TOyPGxHxis9Ie5HdzcpQmME

 

[PhillipM]

I'd be more worried about a shop full of engineers that can't repair it.

 

[MattH]

I'd be more worried about a shop full of engineers that can't repair it.

Indeed, this is my point. What could possibly be wrong with it that can't be repaired?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Who’s going to be the first to email an offer to them

 

[grim_d]

I don't have a spare mill to give them bit if they'd like to donate the Bridgeport to me I'm up for the challenge

 

[sasquar]

we snapped the tang off the gib strip on the knee of ours..... what an absolute sod of a job to repair..... well, kind of.... it was actually a really easy repair, you just had to dismantle basically the entire machine (about 6 hours) to effect the repair (approx 2 mins) then reassemble afterwards.....

 

[lchris21]

we snapped the tang off the gib strip on the knee of ours..... what an absolute sod of a job to repair..... well, kind of.... it was actually a really easy repair, you just had to dismantle basically the entire machine (about 6 hours) to effect the repair (approx 2 mins) then reassemble afterwards.....

been there done that bought the T-shirt

 

[Brad93]

Who’s going to donate a £3000+ mill then?

 

[Maker]

I'll swap it for my Elliott mill.

How broken can it possibly be?

 

[Brad93]

I'll swap it for my Elliott mill.

How broken can it possibly be?

Usually volunteers at these places. Probably not experienced enough to rebuild it

 

[fizzy]

I bet they can repair it - just putting on sad faces to get loads of free equipment!

 

[Pete.]

More like it's totally knackered all over and there's no point fixing the busted gib.

 

[sasquar]

been there done that bought the T-shirt
View attachment 185760

I have a slightly dirtier floor here, but otherwise that photo could have bene taken in our workshop!! lol!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

"How do you break a Bridgeport beyond repair in normal use?"

Get a Norbert to operate it.

 

[lchris21]

I have a slightly dirtier floor here, but otherwise that photo could have bene taken in our workshop!! lol!

Unfortunately ours did not surrender easily as yours by the sounds of it, the gib became wedged in, and refused to move even with hydraulic persuasion. A company who specialises in this (common failure) repair said you've got a 50/50 chance and wanted £500 just to come look at it...........anyway a day or so later and a strategically cut hole in the base it was out...........it cost over £500 in the end but I replaced some of the worn bits and renewed all the lubrication system...runs like a watch now

 

[brightspark]

well if its worn out saying its unfixable and need another is a good way of pulling on a few firms heart strings and will donate another free very clever

 

[earthman]

With any 40+ year old equipment, when do you say enough is enough, time to get a new one? I'm all for saving things but maybe the cost etc is just too much to spend on this??

 

[ronan]

Yeah, fishing expedition i reckon, "its worn out, lets see if we can pull at the public heartstrings and get a new one".

 

[Screwdriver]

Looks like they snapped the casting which retains the cross slide nut. That would take out both sideways and back/forwards. It's a big cross shaped thing if I recall correctly. Probably drove a cutter full speed into a chunk of railtrack (once too often).

 

[MattH]

Looks like they snapped the casting which retains the cross slide nut. That would take out both sideways and back/forwards. It's a big cross shaped thing if I recall correctly. Probably drove a cutter full speed into a chunk of railtrack (once too often).

Maybe, but even a volunteer place like that could afford a couple of hundred quid for a spare part:

https://www.bridgeportuk.com/item-21---1182-feed-nut-bracket-wkeys-h110-197-p.asp