What's new
What's new

Understanding Bridgeport Model Differences?

ATV

Plastic
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Location
Minnesota
Hi Everyone,

I have searched and read but haven't had much luck finding answers to my questions.

I am interested in purchasing a Bridgeport vertical knee mill, but I don't understand enough about the various models to be able to make an educated buying decision. When it does come time to look at a machine and to make the decision, I will have knowledgeable friends with me who can look the machine over. But in the mean time, I would like to be able to do the legwork myself and to track down the correct machine before involving my friends. Thus I need to understand the differences between the models.

I am hoping some of you gurus will answer some questions and offer some advice. :)

1) I have seen references to series I and series II models. What is the difference?

2) I have also seen references to the "J" head. What different types of heads are there and which head do you recommend? I have been told to stay away from the variable models and to go with a model with pulley adjustments because they are more reliable.

3) I assume more horsepower is better. Are the 1 1/2 horsepower models sufficient for everything a guy might want to do with the machine?

4) Is there a range of years to stay away from those models?

5) What questions should I ask the seller?

I know that I want a DRO and a table with power feed and power lift. Anything else you suggest?

How does a CNC bridgeport compare to a CNC milling center? As a computer programmer, I can see the value of CNC so as to be able to duplicate parts. Other than an automated tool changer with the milling center, are there other huge differences between the two?

Thanks,

Dave
 
I'll answer the easy ones.
1) The series 1 is about 2000# and the series 2 is about 5000#.
Series 1 is enough for just about anyone starting out.

2) I don't but the "stay away from the variable speed" argument.
Don't worry about the head model as much as the condition of the
iron. Both can work very well.

3) 1-1/2 or 2 is fine for most. The series 2 came in 4 hp unless it was a BOSS or "special" model.

4) I would stay away from the round ram and the "M" head.
Try to get one from the 1960's or newer. I can't recall when they
stopped making the round ram and the M head.
Just my opinion. Others may disagree.

5) The condition of these is very hard to evaluate unless you
are experienced with one, and you take the one you are looking
at for a test drive.


Scott
 
Last edited:
Some short differences I have figured out:;)

1.All BP tables are 9 inches wide and various lengths,
2. The X axis travel varies between table lengths and if it has a "Bridgeport" brand, X axis drive or other drives. I believe mills installed with the Bridgeport drive, has a lead screw and travel that is 3" shorter; table length the same.
3.All J heads (series 1) are the same casting. Just different drive housings mounted on top. Belt drive and Vari-speed. I like my vari-disk drive and really really really hated the belt drive system that the Enco drill/mill uses.(I have no longer) Vary hard to change speeds. Most recommend to use the step pulley model with a VFD drive. Vari-drive is just a little noisier. Don't know much about the Series II, 2 HP models.
4.Vary good location for information is here.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/bridgeport/

From this page go to all of these for more specific info. (Or click on the links and go direct)
Milling & Drilling Heads Cherrying & Slotting Heads Head Attachments Head Adaptors
Round-ram Model Accessories Measuring Equipment Quick-set Tooling
Collets & Adaptors At Work Right-angle Drives Horizontal Miller
Serial Numbers
Hydraulic Copying, NC and other Special Machines

For manuals go here:
http://www.bbssystem.com/viewtopic.php?t=62

:) Joe
 
Tough Tool, when a VFD is used with a step pulley machine, what method do you use for accurate rpm settings ? Is it a math calc. with the hertz setting on the VFD ??? or a pre made chart ? Thanks, Mark
 
Polaralinged.....

I'll answer the easy ones.
1) The series 1 is about 2000# and the series 2 is about 5000#.
Series 1 is enough for just about anyone starting out.
2) I don't but the "stay away from the variable speed" argument.
Don't worry about the head model as much as the condition of the
iron. Both can work very well.
3) 1-1/2 or 2 is fine for most. The series 2 came in 2 hp unless it was a BOSS or "special" model.
4) I would stay away from the round ram and the "M" head.
Try to get one from the 1960's or newer. I can't recall when they
stopped making the round ram and the M head.
Just my opinion. Others may disagree.
5) The condition of these is very hard to evaluate unless you
are experienced with one, and you take the one you are looking
at for a test drive.
Scott

And just to muddy the water a bit more, there is a model called a Series II Special. That model had a Series I 2hp head mounted onto the heavy Series II base, and the head was tagged as a Series II Special. That machine weighed 4000 to 5000 lbs.
My Series I mill has a Series II Special head that someone removed from the heavy Series II-Special machine and then installed it on mine.
Heads are interchangable between mills
Last round ram was 1955. 'V' rams started production in 1956........pg

SeriesIISpecialHead.jpg


 
How does a CNC bridgeport compare to a CNC milling center? As a computer programmer, I can see the value of CNC so as to be able to duplicate parts. Other than an automated tool changer with the milling center, are there other huge differences between the two?

Dave

As for the Kneemill to VMC comparison, a CNC knee mill such as a BP is fine for the home shop. If you are doing production you want a VMC. Big difference is in speed, performance and maybe a bit of accuracy. But you can make fine, high quality parts with a nice CNC kneemill.
You can convert any BP to CNC for about $1000 using Mach 3 as the controller. If you want a CNC machine right off the bat I would try to find some Series 2 BOSS machine that is in good condition. They are excellent machines and as close as a knee mill comes to a VMC. They use box ways and the table never overhanges the saddle. Very solid machines. I only paid $500 for my series 2 BOSS and it has just 4000 hours on it. The ways are in very good condition.

Scott
 
Some short differences I have figured out:;)

1.All BP tables are 9 inches wide and various lengths,
2. The X axis travel varies between table lengths and if it has a "Bridgeport" brand, X axis drive or other drives. I believe mills installed with the Bridgeport drive, has a lead screw and travel that is 3" shorter; table length the same.
3.All J heads (series 1) are the same casting. Just different drive housings mounted on top. Belt drive and Vari-speed. I like my vari-disk drive and really really really hated the belt drive system that the Enco drill/mill uses.(I have no longer) Vary hard to change speeds. Most recommend to use the step pulley model with a VFD drive. Vari-drive is just a little noisier. Don't know much about the Series II, 2 HP models.
4.Vary good location for information is here.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/bridgeport/

From this page go to all of these for more specific info. (Or click on the links and go direct)
Milling & Drilling Heads Cherrying & Slotting Heads Head Attachments Head Adaptors
Round-ram Model Accessories Measuring Equipment Quick-set Tooling
Collets & Adaptors At Work Right-angle Drives Horizontal Miller
Serial Numbers
Hydraulic Copying, NC and other Special Machines

For manuals go here:
http://www.bbssystem.com/viewtopic.php?t=62

:) Joe

Thanks for the reply and the links! Excellent reading on those pages. It answered a lot of my questions.
 
As for the Kneemill to VMC comparison, a CNC knee mill such as a BP is fine for the home shop. If you are doing production you want a VMC. Big difference is in speed, performance and maybe a bit of accuracy. But you can make fine, high quality parts with a nice CNC kneemill.
You can convert any BP to CNC for about $1000 using Mach 3 as the controller. If you want a CNC machine right off the bat I would try to find some Series 2 BOSS machine that is in good condition. They are excellent machines and as close as a knee mill comes to a VMC. They use box ways and the table never overhanges the saddle. Very solid machines. I only paid $500 for my series 2 BOSS and it has just 4000 hours on it. The ways are in very good condition.

Scott


Polar,

Where did you find your Boss machine for $500? I've been watching ebay and craigslist and they all seem to run quite a bit higher in price. I have a hunch a local auction might be the best opportunity for a "buy" on a bridgeport.

How does one tell if the ways are in good shape or not?

I've read about people having the top of the knee and the table ground and/or scraped. I assume "ground" is a machining operation, but do you happen to know what it means to "scrape" a knee or table? Is that something that requires special tools?

Thanks,

Dave
 
4) I would stay away from the round ram and the "M" head.

Scott, Why would you stay away from the "M" head?

I will eventually be looking for a head to mount on my Brainard:
Machine5A.jpg


The base is not as big and heavy as a Bridgeport. I will need to make an adapter to fit it to the overarm.

Are the issues that it is not as heavy duty as the J or are there operational / techincal / quality issues? I know that the qull travel is less. There are also some collet issues, but there are MT2 spindle heads available.

As an alternate, there is the R head, which is heavier duty, but with a fixed quill. I think the movable quill would be a nice feature to have.

I have leads on a few M heads in good condition, which I why I am asking.

This is for a home machinist and I don't expect to be doing any really big work (my current mill is a benchtop Pratt & Whitney that weighs less than the knee and table on the Brainard).

Steve
 
Response to Mark's question - When using a VFD on a step pulley machine, you would determine the actual spindle speed by dividing the nominal speed by the Hz displayed on the VFD. In other words, if the belt position on the step pulleys would normally have yielded 720 RPM's and the HZ indication on the VFD is 30 instead of 60, then you would actually be turning the spindle at around 360 RPM's.

I say "around" because there are minor issues like belt slippage that really will not make much of a difference. Also VFD's can normally be setup to turn the drive motor at higher than normal Hz rate. So for instance, if you set the max Hz rate in the VFD to 120, the spindle could be turned 1440 RPM's with the belt positions at 720.

Running a machines motor at very low RPM's loses HP and the cooling fan on the motor is not running as much air through the motor, so prolonged use can cause overheating. Over speeding the motor can also cause problems, so I don't do it.
 
Scott, Why would you stay away from the "M" head?

Steve

Only 1/2 horsepower, not very popular B&S taper on most heads,
collet size limited to 1/2", quill travel only 3-1/2".
Sure it can do some real work but with so many J and 2J heads out there, why not shoot for a better head?


Scott
 
Last edited:
Only 1/2 horsepower, not very popular B&S taper on most heads,
collet size limited to 1/2", quill travel only 3-1/2".
Sure it can do some real work but with so many J and 2J heads out there, why not shoot for a better head?


Scott


Good point. You might as well get the best head available. :)

Everyone's replies have been very helpful. I'm feeling better about being able to make an educated buying decision.

I posted a couple of other questions earlier in the topic...

How does one tell if the ways are in good shape or not?

I've read about people having the top of the knee and the table ground and/or scraped. I assume "ground" is a machining operation, but do you happen to know what it means to "scrape" a knee or table? Is that something that requires special tools?
 
Polar,

Where did you find your Boss machine for $500? I've been watching ebay and craigslist and they all seem to run quite a bit higher in price. I have a hunch a local auction might be the best opportunity for a "buy" on a bridgeport.

How does one tell if the ways are in good shape or not?

I've read about people having the top of the knee and the table ground and/or scraped. I assume "ground" is a machining operation, but do you happen to know what it means to "scrape" a knee or table? Is that something that requires special tools?

Thanks,

Dave

Guy on this list, Mr Bridgeport, contacted me after I posted
how my series 1 ways were worn out. He had listed this Series 2 machine in the classified here several times and had no takers. Their loss, my gain. For $500 I was not letting that puppy go elsewhere...
As for telling if the ways are OK, probably the most popular method is just to look at the "flaking" on the ways. The more it disappears, the more worn the ways are. Having rebuilt 3 BP's I now know that there is a LOT more than just the "flaking" to look at.
Sometimes the gibs are worn worse than the ways. Sometimes the leadscrews/ballscrews are worn to the point that the machine could not ever operate properly even with perfect ways. Sometimes only several of the way surfaces need to be scraped to achieve good performance, etc... You could write a book on this.
If you need to rescrape the ways, it is going to cost about $3000.
This would include refitting the gibs.

As for the scraping vs grinding, scraping is done by hand with a manual or power scraper. Takes a lot of talent and experience.
 
Dave A,
Thanks for answering Marks question for me, about the motor RPM of VFD's. Here is another solution, and one I am considering, to verify my Vari-speed 2J is reporting the correct speed. Hate to advertise for this place :o, but here is a listing for new ones at "buy them now" prices; that seem reasonable. Put a little reflective tape on the spindle and point the laser. Cool, :cool:. As usual, flat-rate shipping a rip-off. Joe

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laser-optical-d...oryZ1504QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Only 1/2 horsepower, not very popular B&S taper on most heads,
collet size limited to 1/2", quill travel only 3-1/2".
Sure it can do some real work but with so many J and 2J heads out there, why not shoot for a better head?
Scott

Good point. You might as well get the best head available. :)

The reason I'm considering one is that they run about 1/2 the price of a J. It may depend on how much money I have at the time.

Everyone go to the tooling for sale section and buy all of my stuff so I can get a "J".
:-)

Steve
 
I have an H head......

Smaller and made originally for horizontal mills.....


Scott, Why would you stay away from the "M" head?

I will eventually be looking for a head to mount on my Brainard:
Machine5A.jpg


The base is not as big and heavy as a Bridgeport. I will need to make an adapter to fit it to the overarm.

Are the issues that it is not as heavy duty as the J or are there operational / techincal / quality issues? I know that the qull travel is less. There are also some collet issues, but there are MT2 spindle heads available.

As an alternate, there is the R head, which is heavier duty, but with a fixed quill. I think the movable quill would be a nice feature to have.

I have leads on a few M heads in good condition, which I why I am asking.

This is for a home machinist and I don't expect to be doing any really big work (my current mill is a benchtop Pratt & Whitney that weighs less than the knee and table on the Brainard).

Steve
 








 
Back
Top