Thread: Disassembling and moving a Bridgeport Mill

OK Here is the scenario.

I'm quoting on moving a Bridgeport mill from a second story building down to the first floor. The mill was craned in while the building was being built now they want to move it.
They do have a service elevator but the machine weighs over 5000lbs and the elevator isn't rated for the weight.
So the next best thing is a window will be removed from the side of the building and I need to get this thing as lite and as small as possible.

The cross feed table has to come off for sure. I'd like to take the upper head unit off. Might go as far as the main block that raises and lowers the main table.

I am NOT a machinist. I am however a CNC service technician but work on Shears, Brakes and CNC Turrets. I have moved many machines but have ZERO experience moving a mill.

Any feedback, concerns, advice would be greatly appreciated.

I plan on doing a pre disassembly machine inspection and check for run outs on all the axis so I have a base line of how the machine is before pulling it apart.

find out the real weight of the machine before you start, they aren't that heavy, you may be able to just take the head assembly off at the top of the base and move in 2 pieces on the elevator, on pallets, first lift the machine on to a pallet with a cherry picker before you take the head off, then move it with a pallet jack.

Edit, is it a cnc, or just a standard B/P?

Its an old timer the weight is correct. The job is out of town but I have my Dad on site. I'm hoping to get some pictures.. Not a CNC. Doesnt even has a DRO on it.

A series I Bridgeport isn't close to this weight. A Series II is closer to this. Breaking it down into manageable pieces makes sense. This should then allow the use of s pallet jack and the elevator. Pulling it out the window sounds like a lot more work.

Ultimately it is not my decision how it is moved. I've been asked to disassemble it. The riggers have this decision and will decide depending how small I can break the unit down.
I am interested in any information of the disassembly and reassembly of the unit itself. Are there any dowels that align parts together? Are there shims? Any electrical through the machine frame?

There is no way that machine can weight 5K if it an old "Series 1" style machine. Older does not tranlate into heavier in the BP world. If its really old and a round ram it weighs even less. Shipping weight of a 9x49 BP is only 2100 and that would probably include packing. If you want to lighten it up pull the turret from the body. I would not try to remove the ram from the turret. Those are often frozen up and you can get your self into a bigger mess you don't need. If you still need it lighter and possibly thinner then you can pull the table and saddle.

Take a look here to see a parts break down of the machine body.
Basic Machine (Base)

Can you post what model of Bridgeport you are working with? A picture would be nice as well. That will help people understand what you have so they can advise as to the best way to break down the machine.

People are right to question your 5,000lb estimate. Having put scales on a number of machines, welders, and similar equipment that are well above 500lbs I have found that people are usually just guessing and their guesses can be rather wild.

We got the weight from the customer so yes it could be wrong. I am only working with the info I have been given. If it is less weight, that will be a bonus. I had my dad look for a model number, he said he did not see anything. I am trying to get pictures....
Thank you for the break down picture Mike. That is very useful.
The table will have to come off for sure.

Thanks all for the info thus far.

I move them things around all the time. Just pull the head, ram, table and knee off the thing and you can move it around with a pallet jace and a furniture dolly.
If you can repair those freaky-ass CNCs then a few bolts and nuts shouldn't slow you down in the least. Pulling it apart and putting it back together aint rocket science........and you don't need a computer.

THANK YOU!!
As I have not had anything to do with this style of machine I was concerned with machine accuracy once it was put back together.
Thank you for your input.

I wouldn't bother pulling the knee personally unless you really, really need to minimise weight. Hardest part of the job for both removal and refitting, especially if you haven't done it before. I'd leave the Y axis slide on too to avoid fudgiting with the nut carrier. Do as I say, not do as I do. I took the Y slide off mine and it wasn't worth the effort. Easiest way to pull the head is with a stout post fixed to the table that can be grasped in a large collet to hold the head in place whilst it is removed and replaced using the feed screws for alignment. Best to have wood blocks for extra support against wobble / knocks. Ram and turret can come off as one assembly, don't drop the spider down the column. Ram assembly sans head is can be man handled fairly easily. If you leave the head on its crane time.

Get the owners to clean out the oil sump in the base just in case it tips!

Clive

I would think the riggers would have a fish scale to get the actual weight. The published weight for a series 1 J head is 1988 Lb. I can't believe that a round ram is 3000 Lb more.

Tom

I believe the weight of the basic Bridgeport is in the neighborhood of 2,200lbs.

Here's a list of the weights of the major components that I grabbed from this website:
Bridgeport Series 1 Individual Component Weights

I cannot vouch for any of these numbers — I'm just passing them along for whatever they're worth.

J Head 200 lbs
Ram Adapter 90 lbs
Ram 218 lbs
Turret 214 lbs
Column 715 lbs
Knee 257 lbs
Saddle 142 lbs
48" Table 365 lbs
_____________________
Total: 2101 lbs

Thx again for all the input. I'll be getting some pictures Monday.... will post when I get them.

Series I nope, but if its a Series II machine, a bit over 5k lbs is likely.

As others have said these machines are pretty simple, certainly much more so than a modern CNC. I would suggest finding a manual in case you get stuck.

Hi Guys. OK you were right. It's not as big and the customer is way out to lunch with the weight.

The elevator can carry 2100 lbs so would taking the table off and splitting it at the turret be enough?

Also They want me to make a lathe lighter. Any idea what this lathe weights. Its bed is 6 feet long.
I'm hoping it would come apart at the base.

I found the weight of lathe. 1000kg now thats cutting it close!!

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Originally Posted by Highfly

Hi Guys. OK you were right. It's not as big and the customer is way out to lunch with the weight.

The elevator can carry 2100 lbs so would taking the table off and splitting it at the turret be enough?

That's what I would do. The table doesn't weight to much (I can lift a 32" model table by myself) but that would narrow it up for moving. Removing the turret, ram and head would lighten it up a couple of hundred pounds and I'm thinking you'd be around the 1500# mark. Of course if you're putting it on a skid and moving with a pallet jack then you'd need to add that back to gross weight in the elevator. One option is to figure 2100# gross then take off the table and split at the turret and weight them to get a net weight of what is left.

Mike

Thanks Mike. Yes the weight of the pallet jack is something that could easily be over looked. I might need to get my daughter to run the elevator to save weight as well :-)

So the Bridgeport looks to be the easy project to lighten up.

This lathe could be interesting..... If I can’t split it from the base I guess all I can do is remove the chuck, tail stock and pull the electric motor. It will have to go on end which could be interesting..... Sounds like the customer does want everything to go down the elevator at all cost.

Originally Posted by Highfly

This lathe could be interesting..... If I can’t split it from the base I guess all I can do is remove the chuck, tail stock and pull the electric motor. It will have to go on end which could be interesting..... Sounds like the customer does want everything to go down the elevator at all cost.

I have seen one of those with a transmission removed. The owner told me that they are not that easy to
put back but eventually it can be accomplished. Might need two more hands.