Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

**Muzzer** · 11-07-2018

Seems a lot of money for an old dog. Can't imagine (m)any businesses paying that for it - if anything fails on it, the thing is scrap - you'd never get parts for it. I'd suggest it's not worth much more than the cost of delivery. A machine that is over 15-20 years old is pretty much scrap due to the controller and electronics being obsolete. No sensible business would waste their money on something that could die at any moment. But that's ideal for the likes of us who can fit modern hobby grade drivers, a Chinese controller etc and get machining.

Machines this size are usually cheaper than ones that will fit in a garage workshop. It's rather like Transit vans costing more than 7.5t lorries - they are easier to use, service, repair and store etc.

I got an "old" Shizuoka from ebay for £1k (weighs 3 tonnes). I probably paid over the odds for it but it was in really nice condition. I've found most of the bearings etc are actually standard sizes so it's been easy to service and the components are very nice quality. Cuts really nicely.

I'd wait for something in better shape and / or smaller.

**Chaz** · 11-07-2018

Originally Posted by Muzzer

Seems a lot of money for an old dog. Can't imagine (m)any businesses paying that for it - if anything fails on it, the thing is scrap - you'd never get parts for it. I'd suggest it's not worth much more than the cost of delivery. A machine that is over 15-20 years old is pretty much scrap due to the controller and electronics being obsolete. No sensible business would waste their money on something that could die at any moment. But that's ideal for the likes of us who can fit modern hobby grade drivers, a Chinese controller etc and get machining.

Machines this size are usually cheaper than ones that will fit in a garage workshop. It's rather like Transit vans costing more than 7.5t lorries - they are easier to use, service, repair and store etc.

I got an "old" Shizuoka from ebay for £1k (weighs 3 tonnes). I probably paid over the odds for it but it was in really nice condition. I've found most of the bearings etc are actually standard sizes so it's been easy to service and the components are very nice quality. Cuts really nicely.

I'd wait for something in better shape and / or smaller.

Nice. Yours looks like a Bridgeport. Centroid too, lovely.

**Muzzer** · 11-07-2018

Yes it’s a bit like a giant BP. Main downside is that it is a knee mill so has only 6” quill movement. Bed mills are better but tend to be called VMC and cost a lot more. I had a Chinese controller before the Centroid. Probably better overall but couldn’t understand the manual. With a modern controller and adaptive tool paths these machines can fairly fly.

**Chaz** · 11-07-2018

I actually measured my roof height. 2340mm. An interact 2 is 2350 without drawbar.

**Chaz** · 11-07-2018

What do you think of these? Three on eBay, one is a scam, same pics as another. 1800 to 3000 gbp.

https://auction.newengland.co.uk/lot...ling-machine-2

**Muzzer** · 11-07-2018

Originally Posted by Chaz

What do you think of these? Three on eBay, one is a scam, same pics as another. 1800 to 3000 gbp.

https://auction.newengland.co.uk/lot...ling-machine-2

It claims to be a "universal" machine but a true universal machine would have a table that pivots. It's actually a heavy horizontal mill with a Bridgeport vertical (quill) head. The table feeds will be mechanical and hard to convert to servo.

Better to get an old-ish pukka CNC machine and upgrade the controls. You'd have your work cut out converting those to CNC. Imagine trying to change them over to ballscrews - or the backlash if you didn't.

**Chaz** · 11-07-2018

Originally Posted by Muzzer

It claims to be a "universal" machine but a true universal machine would have a table that pivots. It's actually a heavy horizontal mill with a Bridgeport vertical (quill) head. The table feeds will be mechanical and hard to convert to servo.

Better to get an old-ish pukka CNC machine and upgrade the controls. You'd have your work cut out converting those to CNC. Imagine trying to change them over to ballscrews - or the backlash if you didn't.

Thanks, if I can find a machine that fits under my roof, Ill go for it. Willing to pay decent money for a good machine that I can work with.

**Muzzer** · 11-07-2018

Yes, got to be worth waiting for the right one. Buy in haste, repent at leisure etc. If you buy a heavy old dog you will be stuck with a money / effort pit.

The Shizuoka didn't sell for the starting price so I contacted the seller and suggested something more workable and he went with it.

I've seen people make a hole in the roof to make room for a taller machine.....

**Chaz** · 11-07-2018

Originally Posted by Muzzer

Yes, got to be worth waiting for the right one. Buy in haste, repent at leisure etc. If you buy a heavy old dog you will be stuck with a money / effort pit.

The Shizuoka didn't sell for the starting price so I contacted the seller and suggested something more workable and he went with it.

I've seen people make a hole in the roof to make room for a taller machine.....

Rented house :-( Otherwise Id have no problem 'fixing' the roof.

**Muzzer** · 11-07-2018

As John says, converting a Bridgeport isn't really the best way to go. I'm also part way through doing one myself (I was doing it when I had the accident with the mouse on ebay) and their construction is nothing like a pukka machine. Having said that, there are quite a few BP-type CNC machines that were made as CNC from new, not just the Interact type. Get one of those with ballscrews, servos etc and fit a modern controller.