Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

**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.