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Thread: bridgeport

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    tasmania
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    Default bridgeport

    I see that there are a couple of Bridgeports on ebay at the mo, going cheaper than I have previously seen.

    I have been thinking (slowly) about a DM45 type mill/drill but would obviously prefer something like this.

    I have plenty of space but only single-phase. Will the Bridgeports run on an inverter?

    What pitfalls?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
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    Default

    Bridgeports will run on an inverter although you must take care that running the motor at low RPM can cause overheating and burnout. This is due to forced air cooling used on most induction motors which needs high RPM to provide the airflow. You should also continue to use the built in speed contol on the mill head rather than the variable frequency control on the inverter unless you install auxillary cooling on the motor.

    I have a 48x12 Bridgeport 2J2 with Varispeed Drive which has a 2hp motor and I run it off 3phase. before I installed the 3phase I ran it off a single phase static converter that I built and this allows approximately 2/3 of the nameplate motor power to develop off two active phases. You'd be looking at a 2KW inverter to run a mill like mine.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    melbourne, laverton
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    1,910

    Default

    how about just fitting a single phase motor

  4. #4
    Dave J Guest

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    I think you will find they will go up in price a lot. I know the seller Tissuecars gets top dollar for most of his machines. Not sure why but everyone bids high on his things, this is the guy I bought my shaper vice off.

    Dave

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
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    Default

    tissuescars does get high prices for his stuff, but I have seen a couple of his items on Gray's before he lists them on eBay. He ain't getting rich on that stuff, and he does clean them up and describes them better. Frankly I'd happily pay more to someone who can at least answer questions intelligently.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Narellan, NSW
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    48

    Default

    He also starts his auctions low and cancels any bids on them if they're not up to a decent price before the final hours. After he did that to me a few times, I stopped bidding on his stuff. Fair enough he doesn't want to lose money, but why not start the auction at his minimum price?

    The bridgeports that I've seen on grays in the last few months have typically gone for around $2k by the time you add GST, premiums etc. That's for things like series 2s with varispeed heads and DRO etc.
    Most of the time with Grays they split the tooling off into a separate lot, but not always. They're also pretty good with a waranty of sorts - if they sell something as working and it's not, refunds are possible regardless of what their website says.

  7. #7
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    I spoke about him on the forum after I bought my vice, and you could not meet a nicer bloke.

    There where doubts about him from some other members here at first
    http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ne...ml#post1236166

    But after I met him when I picked it up
    http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ne...ml#post1237668


    He told me he has his own little shop, but didn't show me.

    Dave

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    tasmania
    Posts
    96

    Default Gray's ?

    It sounds as though I'm missing a wonder-world due to my ignorance.

    I will google Grays and anticipate liking what I see!

    What about the Bridgeport's tho- What pitfalls are there? Would I wish that I had bought a new chinese DM45 HM46 or something for my $2K?

    I am unlikely to get a spending voucher for more than that

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Toorloo Arm, VIC
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    Quote Originally Posted by rfurzer View Post

    What about the Bridgeport's tho- What pitfalls are there? Would I wish that I had bought a new chinese DM45 HM46 or something for my $2K?
    The pitfalls are that it could be flogged out. Might need new bearings through the head, ways could be badly worn, issues with the screws/nuts, if its a Varispeed that could need a rebuild... Plenty of things to go wrong. Also picking one with a motor that can be easily rewired at the terminal box for use with a VFD is nice, save you scratching around in the windings, or having to remove the motor and drop it at a rewinder.

    All that said, I trod the same path as you, looking at DM45s from all the vendors, and I now have a varispeed Bridgeport clone with 2 axis DRO sitting in the garage running on a VFD, and haven't looked back. Read, learn, inform yourself as much as possible, and hopefully you'll be able to pick up something reasonable

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
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    Springwood
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    Quote Originally Posted by azzrock View Post
    how about just fitting a single phase motor
    More difficult with the varispeed head as the motor shaft is longer than normal to cary the variable cone pulleys. With the other belt drive heads it is possible and a better option for conversion. VFD's are cheap these days and less bother.

  11. #11
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    Aug 2010
    Location
    Springwood
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jekyll and Hyde View Post
    The pitfalls are that it could be flogged out. Might need new bearings through the head, ways could be badly worn, issues with the screws/nuts, if its a Varispeed that could need a rebuild... Plenty of things to go wrong. Also picking one with a motor that can be easily rewired at the terminal box for use with a VFD is nice, save you scratching around in the windings, or having to remove the motor and drop it at a rewinder.

    All that said, I trod the same path as you, looking at DM45s from all the vendors, and I now have a varispeed Bridgeport clone with 2 axis DRO sitting in the garage running on a VFD, and haven't looked back. Read, learn, inform yourself as much as possible, and hopefully you'll be able to pick up something reasonable
    Also the x-axis powerfeed (if fitted) can clap out due to oil leakage past the shaft seal. This causes commuator failure.

    On the varispeeds be aware that the speed dial must not be turned while the spindle is not rotating. This causes the drive belt to jump off the cone pulleys. It's a bit of a job getting the belt back on. Mine came to me like that. Often people can't resist the temptation even though there's a clear warning lable on the handle.

    Also the skew bevel gear on the x powerfeed has a tendancy to wear out rapidly under heavy loads.

    The automatic quill feed can have broken gears for various reasons. All in all a recent model Bridgeport has far more points to inspect.

  12. #12
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rfurzer View Post
    It sounds as though I'm missing a wonder-world due to my ignorance.

    I will google Grays and anticipate liking what I see!

    What about the Bridgeport's tho- What pitfalls are there? Would I wish that I had bought a new chinese DM45 HM46 or something for my $2K?

    I am unlikely to get a spending voucher for more than that

    With a new Chinese mill, even though it may have a few small issues it's all new and not worn.
    Like others have said things can be worn out/broken on a second hand Bridgeport. With the price of them new very few if any went to home shops, so most have had a hard life in the industry. From what I have read the main problems are worn ways in the middle of both X and Y and worn lead screws and nuts.
    I would not buy one site unseen, make sure you go over it in person looking for any wear and making sure everything works. You are unlikely to find one in great condition for that price, but at least if you have seen it you can pay the amount you think it's worth.

    Dave

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