Re: Newbie bridgeport cnc conversion quetions

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "caudlet" <thom@t...> wrote:

> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "toorigid"

<iszrblack@m...> wrote:

> > I have been a member of the group for a while and read the posts

in

> > the digests sent to my email. I have a old bridgeport series 1

with

> > a 1J head. The table and the ways are not the greatest and I

cleaned

> > and painted it to make it a respectable machine. I just bought
> > another machine much nicer and I am considering selling this old
> > one. But then I began thinking about keeping it (if I can afford

to)

> > and converting it to a cnc. I run a Hurco at work so I have CNC
> > experience. I am wondering what is the best (most bang for the

buck)

> > way to convert machine? I am capable of making all the brackets

to

> > mount the motors. What are the in's and out's of servo vs

stepper?My

> > other concern is the machine itself. The ways are slick(no
> > scrapings) and not chromed. There is some slop with the table

locks

> > loose. Can you run with the gibs snug to get the slop out and

still

> > make good parts? I mean you can indicate the part in if the t

slots

> > are not square to the head, but table and saddle move square to

each

> > other. Do I make sense or am I missing something? Or do I sell

this

> > machine and wait for another one that's in better shape and when

I

> > can actually afford it. I just hate to get rid of the machine if

it

> > usable as a cnc. Thanks alot for your time consideration.
> >
> > Ian Black
>
> Over the years the one theme from guys that have "been there, done
> that" are to put your time into adding the controls to an existing

CNC



Well that's the kind of answer I'm looking for. I was thinking about
it today and I have seen series 2 BP cnc's go pretty cheap and thats
a beefier machine with more travel. I just wanted input, Thanks.

> mill rather than take a non-CNC unit and have to add ballscrews,
> Motors, Controller, motor drives, software, etc. Ususally older

CNC

> machines depreciate faster than manual machines for the simple

reason

> it costs a fortune to keep them running. A "broken" CNC Bridgeport
> with tight ways and no slop will fetch about half what a similar
> manual version brings. Of course I didn't listen to that logic

when I

> was offered a sorry looking Gorton 10. I have spent countless

hours

> cleaning and painting then pulling everything apart and fitting
> ballscrews (A must for precision work) and building the motor

mounts

> and getting it generally ready for CNC conversion. Two years into

the

> project i still need to add the actual control cabinet and get it
> running with a PC controller. Along the way I have used it

manually

> to build 3 other CNC machines.
>
> Shop around for a mill with a broken controller. For the non-

hobbiest

> that is not aware of the existence of the low cost CNC options, a
> busted CNC looks like 3000 lbs of heartache. Most shops when

quoted

> the 10 grand to fix a broken unit, will just opt to buy a new

one. If

> the basic mechanical parts are sound then you are 75% of the way

to

> having a good CNC machine instead of the 25% you will be at with an
> old manual machine.
>
> Do as I say, not as I do!!(:-)