BP X-axis power feed to manual conversion?

[GuitsBoy]

Hi all -

I'm a newbie home user who's lucky enough to have "inherited" my father's bridgeport. Dad was a machinist for the last 50 years and recently retired, and sold off his shop. Since I'm the son who likes to tinker, he saved the bridgeport for me, which I have finally nestled into the corner of my garage. The machine is a 1978 2J2 42 inch w/ powerfeed and DRO, the very machine that I've been using since I was 7 years old, making pinewood derby cars for cubscouts. But I digress.

The factory X axis powerfeed has not worked in some time. Since the machine is certainly not used in any kind of production capacity, and since it's nestled in a corner, we've decided that narrowing the handle to handle width by 6 inches is worth more than having a working power feed. I'd love to simply remove the power feed, and bolt on a manual feed endcap. In doing some research, it looks like the lead screw is actually shorter on the power feed models. Does anyone make a conversion kit or extension for the lead screw used for just such an occasion? I started removing the powerfeed, but then thought I better do some research first, which is where I read about the shortened lead screw. Since I havent removed the powerfeed unit yet myself, I'm not exactly sure what it looks like in there, as far as entertaining homebrew solutions.

Any suggestions on how I might replace the powerfeed with a manual endcap and handle? Thanks, GB

 

[RacerX66]

Hi GuitsBoy,
I just bought a 1979 Bridgeport model 1 and it's missing the X & Y end caps and lead screws. I've lined up purchasing them but really am interested in making my X axis powerfeed and found your post here about making your X axis manual.

Perhaps we can do a swap of aprts and I can also give you some $ for your powerfeed, endplate and lead screw in exchange for a manual lead scew, end plate and manual handle assy.

I'm in central texas, east of Austin, Tx

I see by your profile you're in NY.

Let me know if that possiility interests you and we can chat about it.

Curtis

 

[GuitsBoy]

Hi Curtis -
I do appreciate the offer, but I'd like to keep my dads machine complete as it came from the factory, and has been single family owned. You never know what direction life takes you, and one day I may wish I had kept the powerfeed to repair, even if it just sits in the box. Hope you understand my reasoning.
That said, there seem to be numerous conversion kits available to go from manual to powerfeed out there. While I haven't verified for myself, it seems they work with the stock lead screw.
Thanks,
-Tony

 

[RacerX66]

Hi Curtis -
I do appreciate the offer, but I'd like to keep my dads machine complete as it came from the factory, and has been single family owned. You never know what direction life takes you, and one day I may wish I had kept the powerfeed to repair, even if it just sits in the box. Hope you understand my reasoning.
That said, there seem to be numerous conversion kits available to go from manual to powerfeed out there. While I haven't verified for myself, it seems they work with the stock lead screw.
Thanks,
-Tony

I understand and respect that. Just wasn't sure which direction you intended to go with it. Figured I'd make the offer.

 

[L Vanice]

I bought my mill new in 1974 and the only one in stock that my dealer could sell me had the OEM power feed on the table. I had not planned to spend the extra money, but it was all they had to offer, so I bought it. I have been very happy about the power feed ever since. When a switch failed after many years of use, I wasted no time in replacing it. Power feed is not necessarily a production-only feature. Soon after I started using my mill, I found that power feed was essential to getting the best possible surface finish on my work.

Bridgeport mills have had a number of different power feeds available over the years, so asking advice will get better answers if you clarify what you have, perhaps with a picture.

Larry

 

[GuitsBoy]

Thanks for the reply, Larry. Having an even feed rate for the best finish does make sense. Though the bulk of my work will be simple notches, hole patterns in brackets, clearancing parts, etc. Very simple stuff that will probably be done manually anyway. Yes, the BP is very much overkill for my needs, but it's more or less a family heriloom for lack of better description. Plus my dad can still tinker from time to time when he comes to visit.

But anyway, the powerfeed appears to be a 6F B/C model. I've not started tearing it down yet, nor have I even tested it personally yet. But it seems that converting to a manual control is not a trivial task, so I'll probably go down the route of attempting a repair of the 6F. I guess the first steps are to check the microswitches with a DMM, then ohm out the motor. Maybe look for any burnt caps on the main board and see if something jumps out at me.

Otherwise the machine is working great. I just trammed the head, and made first chips making 4 keys for a pair of 6-inch kurt vices. Pardon the mess in the picture, this was when we were still moving it in, but its the only picture I had handy that shows the powerfeed unit.

 

[aekalman]

I created an upgrade for the 6F years ago, didn't market it much, didn't get much feedback, but it is still available (I think we made parts for 20 units). See https://www.practicalmachinist.com/...-upgrade-enhancement-soliciting-input.228023/ and let me know if you are interested.

The image below shows the unit in our R&D / prototyping shop --it's been in use since 2012, works great.

 

[GuitsBoy]

Thanks, but I think I'm just gonna use the machine as it is for now. Or perhaps more accurately, *not* use the machine. Sadly in the 3 months I've had it, I've only put maybe 4 or 5 minutes of runtime on the bridgeport. I may one day pull the feed apart just to see if it's something simple, but I just cant see sinking money into something I won't ever use. Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't already have a design in my head for a 3D printed stepper / arduino based power feed, but I simply dont have the need to follow through. Thanks for the offer though.

 

[awander]

.....Pardon the mess in the picture, this was when we were still moving it in, but its the only picture I had handy that shows the powerfeed unit.

View attachment 400147

LOL, I sure wish my shop was that messy!

 

[moonlight machine]

I have power feed on all 3 axis and a power drawbar, I would not do without any of them. I put off the power drawbar for years, even after I put a riser on it. I had a job with multiple tool changes and it was killing me so I bit the bullet and bought a power drawbar. What a dumbass I am for not buying one years earlier, that thing paid for itself in a few days and and has done nothing but make life easier since.

 

[GuitsBoy]

But I'm not doing any production at all. I only tinker with things on occasion. I have no business owning a bridgeport, if it wasn't a family heirloom.

 

[rons]

Any suggestions on how I might replace the powerfeed with a manual endcap and handle? Thanks, GB

On my mill the x-axis screw is not one piece. It is extended from the end of the table by a shaft.
The shaft goes through the feed box out to the handle. The feed box connects to the shaft by a gear on the middle of the shaft.
See that cotter pin. I can remove it, the shaft, and the feed box and put back the end plate and handle.
This was not my idea or work except for the shinny washer which keeps the connection tight. A tapered pin would work too.