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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default Bridgeport lead screws in Aus

    I have a series 1 Bridgeport that needs new nuts and lead screws. Originally a metric machine I may convert it to imperial given the price difference for metric screws and nuts (Divisions mean nothing with DROs).

    The problem is that freight from the US or UK is very near the price of the screws. Probably the screws length contributes to this as some suppliers cannot ship long packages to Aus.

    My question is are there ways around this? Alternative freighters, Australian suppliers (I cannot find one). Anyone converting a BP to ballscrews for CNC conversion want to sell me serviceable screws and nuts. I would prefer to keep it metric but it is not worth $800 more.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,942

    Default

    G'day Onslo, what equipment do you have available, asking as it may be easier and cheaper to make one?? Failing that someone on here may offer to make one and the nut, if required, and may only charge a reasonable amount. They would need to know the length, diameter and the pitch and any other details, where bearings etc. may sit.
    For the $800 was that gold plated???
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    Contact a bearing supply company (I would suggest Gardiner Bearings if you were here in SA). THK and others do ACME threads as a length (and nuts) so you may be able to buy something off the shelf and modify if it is not too weird a combination of pitch and diameter. Presumably they would also do trapezoidal too (the metric version of ACME)

    Michael

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
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    50

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    G'day Onslo, what equipment do you have available, asking as it may be easier and cheaper to make one?? Failing that someone on here may offer to make one and the nut, if required, and may only charge a reasonable amount. They would need to know the length, diameter and the pitch and any other details, where bearings etc. may sit.
    For the $800 was that gold plated???
    Kryn
    Thanks Kryn. I only have a small lathe, maybe too small to fit this through its spindle. To me this would be way above my expertise level at the moment. It's a long shaft that must be very accurate. Buying in the appropriately threaded stock is a possibility though. A bit of machining at each end but not crazy. Nuts too need a bit of work but not heaps.

    Yes the imperial screws are about half the price of the otherwise identical metric ones, sans gold. The freight also is a killer at over $800.

    Thanks for your help.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Contact a bearing supply company (I would suggest Gardiner Bearings if you were here in SA). THK and others do ACME threads as a length (and nuts) so you may be able to buy something off the shelf and modify if it is not too weird a combination of pitch and diameter. Presumably they would also do trapezoidal too (the metric version of ACME)

    Michael
    Thanks Michael, as I said to Kryn, I will explore this further.
    My skills are pretty poor so far but it could be a great learning project.

    Thanks for the contacts I will investigate.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

    Default

    Also Onslow_tas, check out shipping options like "Ship it To". There are shipping companies in the US which will agglomerate parcels for you and then ship to Australia more economically than normal shipping outfits. They also provide other services like access to US credit cards and mailing addresses so you can buy from US companies who will not deal with anyone from outside the US( because your location is hidden from them). I have not used them myself, but others on this forum have with some pretty favourable reports coming in. Hopefully a happy user or two will chime in with more details, or report on any not so good aspects. Having said that all reports that I am aware of have been pretty favourable. Good luck

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    ^^Shipito will likely still be using fedex or ups to send outsize goods, which won't be very cheap, plus they'll charge GST so doubt there's going to be much of a saving over a smaller supplier prepared to send direct. Went by Allthread Industries out at Regents Park earlier this year, don't know what they were rolling, but impressive large stuff! A call to them might reveal if there's still any specialist doing rolled rather than cut threads left....you're probably 10 years late for the Melbourne mob.

    Assuming this is an Adcock machine, a friend worked there back in the day, supposedly it was acme thread they used in metric pitch, can ask if he has any contacts, give me a chance to gee him up to finish a grinding job at least.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Port Sorell, Tasmania
    Posts
    74

    Default

    Was talking to a bloke recently who had a similar issue to you and ended up getting the nuts cast out of brass in Launceston. Think it may have been at Rankin and Bond.

    Tony

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ropetangler View Post
    Also Onslow_tas, check out shipping options like "Ship it To". There are shipping companies in the US which will agglomerate parcels for you and then ship to Australia more economically than normal shipping outfits. They also provide other services like access to US credit cards and mailing addresses so you can buy from US companies who will not deal with anyone from outside the US( because your location is hidden from them). I have not used them myself, but others on this forum have with some pretty favourable reports coming in. Hopefully a happy user or two will chime in with more details, or report on any not so good aspects. Having said that all reports that I am aware of have been pretty favourable. Good luck
    Thanks Ropetangler. Ship it to looks very good. I had never heard of them. What a clever business idea. I am exploring with a local who brings cars and car parts in from the states. He may be able to put my package in the boot of a car or something.

    This forum is certainly a helpful environment.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tony_A View Post
    Was talking to a bloke recently who had a similar issue to you and ended up getting the nuts cast out of brass in Launceston. Think it may have been at Rankin and Bond.

    Tony
    Thanks Tony. I think I have given up the idea of rolling my own. With the freight reduced the parts prices are reasonable. I will keep exploring cheaper freight options.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hunch View Post
    ^^Shipito will likely still be using fedex or ups to send outsize goods, which won't be very cheap, plus they'll charge GST so doubt there's going to be much of a saving over a smaller supplier prepared to send direct. Went by Allthread Industries out at Regents Park earlier this year, don't know what they were rolling, but impressive large stuff! A call to them might reveal if there's still any specialist doing rolled rather than cut threads left....you're probably 10 years late for the Melbourne mob.

    Assuming this is an Adcock machine, a friend worked there back in the day, supposedly it was acme thread they used in metric pitch, can ask if he has any contacts, give me a chance to gee him up to finish a grinding job at least.
    Thanks Hunch

    I haven't got a quote from "ship it to" just yet as I am exploring other shipping options. The metric threads are 5mm pitch. I cannot determine if they are 29 or 30 degrees (mine are now about 40). Yes it would be appreciated if you could follow up with your colleague. It is an old Adcock machine and one of the later metric versions from 1980.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Tungkillo, South Australia
    Age
    87
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    74

    Default

    I've bought a few BP spares from the US companies over the last few years and used a couple of 'Ship to' houses. MyUS was the first I tried (twice only) and was probably the cheapest but not by much. They used DHL who delivered directly to my door in rural SA. A big plus. The major problem was they used extremely thin cardboard boxes when consolidating my purchases into a single box and on both occasions the boxes were crushed and torn open. I lost items from both shipments. My BP Y-axis leadscrew from the first and some small bits from the second. Insurance covered about 50% only. The latest is UStoOZ and currently I'm waiting for replacement kits for Drive Belt and Var. Speed pulley stuff, plus Spindle Bearings etc. weight 9.6 Lb. Cost was ~$1050AUD for purchase and ship to UStoOZ and I'm waiting for them to tell me their fee + freight to me. I still feel I paid much less than from local suppliers, they don't keep stock and buy from the same suppliers that I did etc. etc.
    When I bought my Leadscrews I asked the supplier what the shipping would cost direct from him. UPS wanted ~ $600USD!! MyUS charged ~$160USD
    Your suggestion of replacing Metric with Imperial Leadscrews is what I did, the DRO doesn't care. Don't forget to buy the Imperial Leadscrew nuts though!
    Altogether, it will be a bit pricey but you will be adding value to a really useful machine.
    Hope this helps,
    Charles

  13. #13
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    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Thanks Charles, that is very useful information. Your experiences haven't been fantastic. I think I might check back with you as to how this latest lot goes. I am less keen after hearing about the repackaging into cardboard.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    50

    Default Thoughts on this stock?

    https://www.tea.net.au/Portals/0/uploads/PAGE%2034.pdf

    Anyone care to give their thoughts on this stock? ACME and Trapezoidal available and nuts to suit. 0.1/300m seems a fair bit of inaccuracy but I am not sure. I think mild steel would be fine?

    I have a problem that my lathe can not accomodate 32mm through its spindle so would have to farm out the turning. Maybe those costs might make it unviable.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    Just by coincidence, have got to send some spur gear drawings to a supplier in China, he has bugged me again today and sent pics of a few other odds and ends. With most favoured status and shipping subsidised by the rest of the world, you might have a win that way. If you can spec the screw, etc, his email is - [email protected]

    Looks like you're not on your ownsome either, from this post a year ago, mate's comment that it was acme, seems to be true according to the last post.

    https://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...zoidal-349231/
    Attached Images Attached Images

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