Bridgeport Manual to CNC conversion...

[Davek0974]

Ball-screws arrived today :)

Managed to start fitting the Y axis one but where the oil feed drilling is in the nut, the pipe hits the knee chip guards so it'll last about 5 minutes :(

I have emailed the suppliers as it looks wrong unless i have it fitted wrong of course but there is only one oil drilling.

[Davek0974]

How smart am I :)

Not very it seems!

I ordered a ball-screw kit for a Bridgeport with a 9" x 48" table, however, after trying to fit the Y axis again tonight it turns out I have the extended knee model with a 12" Y travel not 9" like normal

Still, I've only had it 11 years, never noticed.

The suppliers are being good so far and are looking into getting the bigger version swapped out with my one while i am on holiday.

Aaaargh!

Also ordered up another three replacement bearings for the head - the old girl was in a worse condition than i thought.

[Davek0974]

Bigger version screw is on the way :)

Note to remember - measure twice, order once ;)

[komatias]

Dave,

out of interest: what paint did you use?

[Davek0974]

It's from a UK company called Craftmaster Paints, it's their "Engine Enamel" range in Bridgeport Grey.

Its the same company I used for painting the traction engines - the best paint I've ever used :) Not cheap it cost £30 for the 1ltr tin inc postage but well worth it.

[Davek0974]

Hi all, back again after the holiday :)


Wasted no time in getting out to the shop, started catching up on customer orders and did some work on the mill.


Seems I have ordered a screw set for the Z axis that is far too long - bum
Will eBay that one for a few quid - its a 20/05 zero backlash unit 360mm long if anyone wants it.


Then i discovered the motor bearings are half-shot , a bit of slack and grumble when spun. It will work ok but not sure having come this far if i should refit or replace with something else - options would be repair (expensive), fit a new vfd style motor with shaft extended (more expensive) or throw on a servo motor (a bit more expensive).

Having replaced nearly all the bearings it seems daft to refit the duff motor now - time to think here.

[Boyan Silyavski]

How much could be that motor bearings? it seems cheaper to replace them, right? Aren't they some standard size?

Having done all that work til now, the logic is not to leave anything unrepaired.