Bridgeport relocation

[Spark plug]

So I've sold a Bridgeport to MattH, he needed to stripping to get it into a van and to make moving it easier at his end. I thort ile post a how to for anyone interested.

The first job is to disconnect to wireing to the motor so the head can be removed.

Now the motor I'd disconnected the head can be removed the easiest way I've found to do this is to lightly support the end of the spindle in a vice.

Supporting the head like this means it can be withdrawn from its mounting studs nice and square, simply by winding the table forward. Then it's quite simple for 2 people to lift it away from the machine.

Next is to remove the x axis leadscrew, this is a simple task just remove the LH handwheel, micrometer dial and bearing support.

With the LH free, next remove the bolts from the RH bearing support and unscrew the screw from the nuts, with this still haveing the power feed casting still attached it was easier with 2 people, 1 to support the screw and another to unscrew it.

Now the gib needs to be removed from the x axis before the table can be removed. This is done by removing the screw from the front left of the saddle.

Withe the screw removed the gib should just slide out.

Now the table can be slid off, watch your fingers on the nut block as it herds if they get stuck in there.

Next is to remove the control box from the front of the knee ready for it to be lifted off later. Also the wipers from the top of the knee need to be removed to gain acces to the gib.

 

[MattH]

Cheers for today mate. Good to meet you.
I will be posting up some pics in the next couple of days.

Just passing Birmingham now! Still 100 miles to go

 

[Spark plug]

Now for removing the heavy bits, the turret is secured by 4 bolts used to pivot it. When these are removed take care to catch the spider inside the column that they screw into now the turret can be
Lifted away.

Now the worst bit IMO the knee. When this is done it's very important to remove the gib correctly as if the gib tramps in too far with the knee lowered all the way it can get Jamed and cause major problems. Also don't try and to remove the knee with the gib still in.

With the knee in the mid position undoo the adjusting screw and withdraw the gib.

Next remove the 2 bolts securing the knee lift screw mounting from the base.

Now the knee can be slung and lifted off.

Now you have a Bridgeport in bits, takes 2 people about 2 hours to to strip and isn't as frightening a task as you may imagine.

 

[Spark plug]

Cheers for today mate. Good to meet you.
I will be posting up some pics in the next couple of days.

Just passing Birmingham now! Still 100 miles to go

Thanks Matt hope you get it unloaded and back together ok.

 

[CRB]

?Are you there yet?
?Are you there yet?
?Are you there yet?

 

[Robotstar5]

?Are you there yet?
?Are you there yet?
?Are you there yet?

Probably sitting in Strensham services having a cuppa

 

[MattH]

Lol, just got back now. 12 hours for round trip with loading!

 

[mike os]

how much do the individual bits weigh? (about)... ie easy, hard or very hard 2 man lift ?

its the weight that has put me off...

 

[MattH]

Table and head are easy two man lift.
Approx weights are:

Saddle and knee 200kgs
Turret ram and knuckle 240kgs
Column 315kgs

No problem with a 2 ton engine crane.

 

[CRB]

I did Caerleon, there and back, in a Nubira 2.0l CDX with 2no MZ 125s in the back in 12 hours. Well done that man.

how much do the individual bits weigh? (about)... ie easy, hard or very hard 2 man lift ?

its the weight that has put me off...

It was the space to put it for me.

Next time.....with any luck.

Have a cup of tea....or a little beery celebration.

 

[mike os]

Table and head are easy two man lift.
Approx weights are:

Saddle and knee 200kgs
Turret ram and knuckle 240kgs
Column 315kgs

No problem with a 2 ton engine crane.

easy if you don't have 100m of garden path to take it up....

 

[mike os]

Hard choices....may just have to hold out for a myford or tom senior....

 

[MattH]

A myford is the same as my 626 and it weighs about the same complete as the bare BP column.
Even partially stripped the Myford will still be a tough move. At that point you might as well commit to the BP.

I have to get the BP up three steps from my lower patio to my upper patio where the shed is. If I can do that (and I will) then you should be able to get it along a path.

 

[CRB]

That is what ramps are for.

 

[MrFluffy]

I found mine easier to move with the knee still on, strapped to a pallet truck for easy handling, straps removed just before this shot in case you are wondering if I really did move a mill on a skiddy sheet of osb just placed on the truck...

JohnS sent me this photo of how to sling a head up with a engine crane and strop without damaging it. I don't have the celing height to do this in my shed though so I'm part way making a fixture which bolts to the teeslot table to get it back on.

 

[Spark plug]

I found mine easier to move with the knee still on, strapped to a pallet truck for easy handling, straps removed just before this shot in case you are wondering if I really did move a mill on a skiddy sheet of osb just placed on the truck...

JohnS sent me this photo of how to sling a head up with a engine crane and strop without damaging it. I don't have the celing height to do this in my shed though so I'm part way making a fixture which bolts to the teeslot table to get it back on.

What make/model is your mill if you don't mind me asking the head and top of the column ware the turret mounts looks a bit unusual.

 

[MrFluffy]

Its a Bridgeport interact series1 cnc. They were a stepping stone between bridgeports old all manual machines and their complete redesign for the later series2 BOSS machines, so they took a standard bridgeport casting, added the rigid ram (no tilting needed for a cnc) and fitted them with steppers , qc30 spindle but kept the vari head rather than the vfd or dc drive of the later ones. This was a MDI, and could only move 1 axis at a time and sat in a college relatively unused as a result, it still has the frosting on the way's.
The later machines are twice the weight of this one, but more suited to cnc volume work. As I'm not in business churning 10000 widgets a day out, this'll do me nicely. Just getting towards the end of a linuxcnc retrofit with 1100oz/inch modern nema34 steppers so it can move all axis at the same time and do 4 and more axis work with the appropriate bolt on axis's, and has lost its vari head drive for a 1:1 drive and vfd, but still has backgear for low speed high torque work. Its managing 60ipm with no missed steps with no drive tuning, so that'll do nicely.

 

[ukracer]

I still think it would have been easier to load it in one onto my Navara and save all that messing. A nice set of wheels/dolly and it would have been in my garage hooked up to my converter

 

[MattH]

I still think it would have been easier to load it in one onto my Navara and save all that messing. A nice set of wheels/dolly and it would have been in my garage hooked up to my converter

Snooze you loose!

 

[Spark plug]

Its a Bridgeport interact series1 cnc. They were a stepping stone between bridgeports old all manual machines and their complete redesign for the later series2 BOSS machines, so they took a standard bridgeport casting, added the rigid ram (no tilting needed for a cnc) and fitted them with steppers , qc30 spindle but kept the vari head rather than the vfd or dc drive of the later ones. This was a MDI, and could only move 1 axis at a time and sat in a college relatively unused as a result, it still has the frosting on the way's.
The later machines are twice the weight of this one, but more suited to cnc volume work. As I'm not in business churning 10000 widgets a day out, this'll do me nicely. Just getting towards the end of a linuxcnc retrofit with 1100oz/inch modern nema34 steppers so it can move all axis at the same time and do 4 and more axis work with the appropriate bolt on axis's, and has lost its vari head drive for a 1:1 drive and vfd, but still has backgear for low speed high torque work. Its managing 60ipm with no missed steps with no drive tuning, so that'll do nicely.

I knew I recognised it but couldn't put my finger on it, I think as I was used to looking at the later ones.

I still think it would have been easier to load it in one onto my Navara and save all that messing. A nice set of wheels/dolly and it would have been in my garage hooked up to my converter

It was fun TBH, takeing things to bits always is