BP series 2

I have a chance to buy a BP series 2 mill. I've read all I can find here about BP mills and can't find the difference between Series 1 and series 2 mills. Anyone have a quick explanation or a link to this? I looked at the UK BP site and unless I missed something they only have info on the series 1. Thanks in advance. Russ

The Series II is about twice the size of a Series I. About 6 foot long table, chrome box ways, air assist knee liftm, 1500 lb. table capacity. Weighs in around 5K.

I can't remember the hp rating or the spindle taper, but the tooling is not the same as Series I.

Not a bad machine, but bigger than most people want for home shop. The Series II special is the machine to get. They had a Series II base with a Series I head. Big machine with R-8 tooling.

JR

Series II has a 4 horse motor and a 40 taper quick change spindle. Always comes with an X axis feed that is attached to the knee. If you are lucky you can find one with power feeds on all axis.

Thanks for the info JR. Darn!!! That must be why it's so cheap. I was sort of hoping they were some kind of upgrade on the series 1 base machine. Sounds too big for me.

here's one, http://www.nemicmach.com/nmcsite-III/seriesIIbridgeport.html. If you have the space to put it, don't be too intimiatated by the extra size. I've never been disapointed buying a machine that can handle all of my small work but is a little too big. Get your self a set of these ER 40 collets with collet holder. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=505-2212&PMPXNO=953747&PARTPG=INLMK3. I got mine on ebay for $320 just be careful to get the NST 40 and not cat40 and you'll be in buisness with quite the machine if you can handle it.

Adam

Great info guys!!! Better than I'd hoped for. 4 hp... bet that suckered throw some serious chips! I assume that'd be 3 ph and V??? Adam thanks for the links, the one with the machine on it came up as an error but I'll try later. I just might have to take the 6 hr trip to see this thing. $1500 CND...if it's in any shape at all thats a heck of a deal.

To further confuse matters, sometime about 1988, the Series 2 was dropped from production, but not the Series 2 Special.

Someone at Bridgeport had the opposite bent of the folks at Coca Cola, where plain old Coke is now "Classic" Coke (which is of course insane as New Coke was a flicker in the wind long gone), and then dropped the "Special" moniker, such that the regular headed, but full bodied machine was now just the Series 2.

Classic DT

This is why one sometimes sees a Series 2 advertised that appears the same as a Series 2 Special.

Torker,

I am getting that same error too, but a quick search for "series II bridgeport" on google, brought up tons of hits. Here's a few more hopefully one will work. They'll all be three phase, but so will most series I. Don't be afraid of that all you need is a big three phase motor, hooked up as a phase converter and they are easy to make, and inexpensive to buy. If you have the space dont be too worried. A big machine will do small stuff, a small machine won't always do big stuff.

http://www.emachinetool.com/used/catalog/vertical.cfm?ProductID=11813

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2585004986

http://www.mpemachinetool.com/Vertical%20Mills/Bridgeport%20Series%20II%20445.htm
Here's the special http://www.ob.com/engine/bridgeport.html

The Series 2 standard weighs in about 5000 lbs, and has dc drive motors for feeds on x, y, and knee. The front of the table has a hex feed rod similar to a lathe. The ram could be reversed to mount a 2J head on many. The feeds are not really fast compared to a KT horizontal in rapid, but better than hand cranking. The specials had an air counterbalance on the knee and no feeds on the x and y. If you want feeds, mount up a servo unit. The y travel is 14.50" compared to 12" on a series 1 on both the standard and the special. X travel on my series 2 standard is about 33.500", or about the same as a 48" table series 1. The table measures 54" across the tslots, but the saddle is also 6" wider. My series 2 standard is an oddball, as it has a 2J head and the ram backwards, running an Erickson 30 spindle. Its how I bought it. I understand the early 4HP heads had some issues.

[This message has been edited by WILLEO6709 (edited 01-03-2004).]

Russ,

There is one thing you might want to keep in mind, Bridgeport made this Series II machine and made many of the table parts themselves(ie: they did not outsource many of these parts.) therefor, since they are no longer in Manufacturing, some of these parts are no longer available.

This has presented some problems for many people who have called on me looking for these parts.

Again, the parts that are hard to find have been for the saddle/table. Many people have had to make these parts themselves.

Now, the head parts have been easier to locate.

Also, some of the electrics also have been a chore to locate, however; these have been found after doing some deep looking.

This is just food for thought.

Please feel free to call me for questions and I will answer any of them as honestly as I can and try to be of help as best of my abilities.

Regards,
Dee(800)906-0012

Thanks again for all the good info. I found out why it's so cheap. It was used as a hi production machine and the table was removed. They have a purpose built hydraulic table on it now that is only useful for the parts they where making on it. The original table is available but all the parts for it (feed screw, hand wheel etc.) are missing. The salesman said it's an "inoperable machine" so there is no apparent way to even check the head operation. Hmmm... hi production probably equals worn out junk. Dee... thanks... I will phone you. Russ