Bridgeport dial drawing wanted

Yan Wo · Nov 2, 2014

I'd like to copy the Bridgeport mill dial lock system when I make larger dials for my 1948 South Bend lathe. The Bridgeport design seems superior to the original SB.

Does anyone have a drawing of the dial and lock mechanism? Just a sketch is all I need. I can almost visualize it from the parts I see on eBay.

Thanks!

Jon

egpace · Nov 4, 2014

Maybe this will help some, no dimensions.

http://aafradio.org/garajmahal/Bridgeport_old_drive_exploded.jpg

Toms Wheels · Nov 4, 2014

I agree the SB system with a screwdriver slotted setscrew is poor. In my opinion the BP is not much better, and since you would need to shrink the items to fit the SB could well end up worse.

A thumbscrew is the simplest and would be simple to add to a larger dial. Now if you wanted the best design of all, look at a monarch 10EE dial setup, thumb lever to lock, integral threading stop with two turns of travel, CW and CCW numbered tic's one for turning the other for boring. There was even a setup that was cumlative for 6" of crosslide travel. None of which could fit on a SB apron.

IMHO

chesapeake · Nov 4, 2014

Not sure whether you're looking for a diagram of the mechanics of the dial or a photo of the increments......

There's a mechanical diagram in here:

Home

zac_b · Nov 4, 2014

If you're making new ones from scratch, might as well look at other lathe dials as well - a lot have a knurled thumbscrew on the front which presses a pad outwards into the rotating ring, which can make for great precision and feel if it's done right. I've never loved the BP's tendency to rotate as one snugs up on a setting.

Yan Wo · Nov 6, 2014

egpace said:
Maybe this will help some, no dimensions.

http://aafradio.org/garajmahal/Bridgeport_old_drive_exploded.jpg

Yes! Thanks very much for taking the time to post the drawing. It's exactly what I wanted to see.

Jon

Yan Wo · Nov 6, 2014

Toms Wheels and zac b,

Thanks for the suggestion to look at the dial lock mechanism other lathes use. I used a Bridgeport dial lock maybe once or twice and don't remember having a problem getting it positioned exactly where I wanted it.

Jon

Yan Wo · Nov 7, 2014

chesapeake said:
Not sure whether you're looking for a diagram of the mechanics of the dial or a photo of the increments......

There's a mechanical diagram in here:

Home

chesapeake, thanks very much for going to the trouble to post this.

Jon

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Bridgeport dial drawing wanted

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