Latest Project

[Gary Campbell]

I've recently purchased a Bridgeport Series II Special Edition Mill. I am doing a complete control retrofit, and even tho this is not woodworking related, I know there are a number of guys here who may have some fond memories of these vintage machines. I'll post a few pics from before I stripped the electrical parts, and a few more as I progress. I would appreciate any info about the machine from those in the know.

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[Gary Campbell]

A few more pics after some cleaning and a little paint.


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[Art Mann]

Thanks for the update. I look forward to seeing the finished project.

[Gary Campbell]

Thanks Art.

A few more now that the Control is in the box (but not 100% wired in), the Monitor & Keyboard are mounted. It took some doing to get modern NEMA 42 Servos mounted but I am happy with the results. I'm waiting on a couple drive belts and I should have motion.

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[Mike Heidrick]

Looks great. I too retrofitted a knee mill. I love mine - 1050 millport from 1987. Yours should be r8. Mine is nmtb30. Shars has some inexpensive toolng to get started.

[Gary Campbell]

Mike...
Actually mine is nmtb with Erickson QC30 and came with 20 holders and some nice tools. I would like to pick your brain one day when you have some time.

[Mike Heidrick]

Sure thing Gary. I will call you this weekend. Also I did some external DC braking on my VFD that is working out, as well as a DIY mister setup. I also bought a crazy indexing plate. You will be thankful for your enclosure. These make a TON of dust.

My gallery of my build is here if you want to see a bunch of pics. May mean a lot more to you now that are going through a DIY retrofit. I did a Centroid AllinoneDC servo controller and have added the 4th axis. I use nema42 dc servo motors and encoders.

http://s39.photobucket.com/user/BloomingtonMike/library/CNC%20Millport

[Gary Campbell]

Mike...
That machine is sweet! I would have to force myself to take that many pictures, but kudos to you.

Here are a couple more pics of a custom WinCNC screenset for the Mill.
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[Mike Schnorr]

Gary,

Hope I get a chance to come and see it work when you get it going!

[Gary Campbell]

A little more progress from the weekend. Everything is wired in, motion is verified and calibrated. Limit switches brackets are installed, limits tested and calibrated. Air and coolant plumbing is started, with airlines run to the Knee assist and for a table mounted blower. Mister and air blower yet to come. Test cuts were successful, but with the note that I have to learn how to cut all over again.

L to R Control Box, Front view, Coolant control, workstation and limit switch mounts


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[Mike Heidrick]

Beautiful Gary.

[Gary Campbell]

Last update to this thread. I've been busy cutting and forgot to put the finish on it.

The pics show vises mounted, tramming spindle, mister complete, coolant bracket with (L to R) flood coolant, mist and air hoses, an NMTB tool holder block and wrench, a motor mount and the tool rack


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[Gary Campbell]

Forgot one


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[Art Mann]

I think it is about time for a demo video!

[Gary Campbell]

Art...
Maybe some day when I actually know what I am doing!

[Guy Hilliard]

Gary;

The time to create the video is now when you do not know what
you are doing so you will not take it for granted what we may or
may not know. You now know what you didn't know, when you
do know you may have forgotten what you didn't know, so please
show us what you did and how you did it.

Thanks

[Gary Campbell]

Guy...
Thanks for the reminder. Here are some of todays pieces. They are belt reduction transmissions for PRTAlpha ShopBots that originally shipped with direct drive. These units really smooth out the ripples on circular cuts. Pics below show the two trans halfs ready to clean edges and press bearings in. 4th one is a completed unit. Last two are a ballscrew Z assembly with air counterbalance and upper limit. These are some of the replacement/upgrade components I build for these aging machines that make them cut like new.