Bridgeport Series 1 Mill Feed Box

[George ScopelParticipant @georgescopel96574]

Hi

I am in the process of restoring the feedbox of what I am told to be a series 1 BP Mill.

Can anyone kindly assist with a drawing for this feedbox which is made up of predominantly gears.

The X- Axis lead screw feeds into the top of it through fairly thick bearings. Although I can find the replacement for the bearings currently in the feedbox I am told some are metric and some imperial ? The lead screw has quite some wear in the center so I will make a new one but I just want to check what the bearings ID/OD should be because the machine is quite old so I am concerned someone may have used the incorrect bearings and just modified the shaft to make it fit.

Legible drawings for the feedbox or for the entire machine would be really be great .

Thank you

George

[George ScopelParticipant @georgescopel96574]

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I've got a variety of manuals for the BP mills and the one called "M105H_Series1" manual shows the exploded power feed gearbox (around page 49). I can give you a copy if you PM me your email address. Alternatively, if you want to download it, it is available on the internet.

Murray

[Anonymous]

Judging by the description I assume the OP is decribing the original BP table feed not the later DC motor controlled feed? The original feed comprised of a number of gears in a stack along with a selector that hung off the righthand side of the table. It was solidly built and was rumoured to put a permanent bend in the table if left overhanging by too much for too long.

Andrew

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Ah well, you lost me there. I didn't know there were 2 versions. This one is described as the "6F Power Feed" in the manual I linked to:

Murray

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

George

I have a pdf copy of the 1966 Bridgeport manual which has internal details of the feed box in the parts list section. Not as clear as the later parts book pictures due to the original being excessively reduced but, I think adequately readable if printed to A3 size rather than A4. PM me and I'll shoot the file over.

I also have a brand spanking new X axis feed screw for the gearbox power feed model. Possibly the last new one in captivity, on this side of the Atlantic at least. I can make some measurements for you to confirm sizes before you make your own or we could do a deal for £ very reasonable. Obtained over 15 years back for a mate who changed his mind when he realised that I seriously wanted him to pay for it!

There is probably some useful information on the Yahoo Bridgeport Mill Group. As Moderator I ought to know but I've never delved that far into the older conversations. Nothing obviously useful in the files section. Probably worth joining up and asking if anyone knows.

Clive.

[Anonymous]

Posted by Muzzer on 21/11/2017 21:06:02:

Ah well, you lost me there. I didn't know there were 2 versions.

See the beginning of this page:

**LINK**

Andrew

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

This appears to be the same as the picture in the parts section of the 1966 manual that I have :-

**LINK**

This seems to be about the only potentially useful discussion that comes up on a Google search :-

**LINK**

Couple of pictures of the innards can be found on line.

Clive.

[George ScopelParticipant @georgescopel96574]

Hi Andrew

I have to smile, yes the box does carry a serious amount of weight.

Thank you all for the very useful input. Clive I have sent a mail requesting the 1966 files please.

Regards

George

[George ScopelParticipant @georgescopel96574]

Hi

Can someone identify how the pick feed works on my Bridgeport .

Also, I got the picture of the worm gear used to adjust the angle of the head from the manual Clive sent me; my machine does not have this gear and the internal gear although graunched is still present. I would appreciate it if someone has such a gear that they can measure up and send me a drawing so that I can have one made up.

George

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

George

Glad the manual was of some use. Best to replace worm wheel and worm as a pair. In my, and many other folks, view that worm and wheel is seriously overloaded. Given how rarely most heads are rotated its surprising how many worms and wheels are in poor to dangerous shape. If I were doing serious work in that area I'd bore the hole for the worm carrier shaft right through and re-design the shaft assembly so the worm is supported on both sides. Mine is in decent enough condition but still doesn't give that nice warm "everything really under control" feeling when operated. Of course my 2J2 varispeed head is both weightier to start with and even more top heavy than the step pulley version you have.

I'l get back to you with an updated drawing on the feed screw with keyway positions included soon. Need to finish up a couple of shop re-arrangement jobs so I can get it out again!

Pretty much first reference I've ever seen to the Pick Feed Unit . It appears to have been part of a hydraulic Y axis drive device. Possibly for tracer or similar applications. Some discussion here :- **LINK** .

Link to Bridgeport patent for the device dated 1965 **LINK**. A quick skim thought suggest that it appears to adequately explain the basic operation of the device but not really clear as to actual use. Suggestions at the beginning are somewhat vague. Careful reading of the patent might provide you with enough information to get it working but judging by the Practical Machinist Forum link there is a fair bit of other gubbins needed to get it going. A brief mention at http://www.lathes.co.uk suggests that it adds automatic return and next cut application control to the Bridgeport hydraulic copying unit so it needs the rest of the hydraulic copier to function.

Clive.

Edited By Clive Foster on 19/12/2017 19:42:39

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

George, the bearings on my MK1 feedbox were not on the feedscrew, they were on a sleeve which joined the feedscrew to the feedscrew extension.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Does anyone have instructions for use of the Bridgeport Cherrying attachment please.

Daveb

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

daveb

Only instructions that I know of are 3 or 4 pages in the Bridgeport Attachments Catalogue Number 30. Very basic but look to be enough to get it all figured out with a bit of experimentation. Hafta say I've never played with mine. For £20 off t'Bay it was good value on coolness factor alone.

Doesn't seem to be out on the Internet so PM me with your E-Mail address and I'll either set-up an File Transfer link for the whole thing or dig out the relevant pages and send them as E-Mail attachments.

Clive.

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