What is a Bridgeport milling machine used for?
You could bolt parts off the edge of the table and drill bolt circles and mill keyseats, meaning that it could accommodate larger parts. Machinists could also handle much wider plates that a machine of this size could previously allow.
Are Bridgeport mills any good?
Bridgeport Milling Machines certainly are one of the best made Milling Machines around. However, there are times when you need a milling machine and can’t justify spending well over $20,000.00. We think that a great alternative in this case would be to look at the Acra Milling Machines.
Are Bridgeport milling machines still made?
The Bridgeport knee mill is still made in the U.S.A. — by Hardinge Inc. Bridgeportarea-team members stand with the first machine to roll off the line at Hardinge.
Why is it called a knee mill?
The design of the knee mill goes back to 1936, when Rudolph Bannow’s company produced a knee-and-column vertical mill with a rotating turret and sliding-ram head. The mill became known by the company’s name—Bridgeport—which, like Kleenex, became the generic signifier for mills of similar design.
Why is milling important?
Milling is perfect for producing individual pieces in small or large batches. It has the capability of producing complicated shapes, using multi-tooth and single point cutting tools. The operation costs can be controlled to a great extent if general-purpose cutters and equipment are used.
How do I identify my Bridgeport mill?
Along with the machine serial number each milling head is numbered. They are stamped on the main housing and also on a tag on the upper drive. These numbers are prefixed with the model of the head. The most common are “M”, “J”, “2J”.
What is a Bridgeport knee mill?
A Bridgeport mill is a standard manual knee-type vertical milling machine. The reason that many people refer to a manual mill simply as a “Bridgeport” is because it’s one of the most famous brand names that’s found in most machine shops. Essentially, Bridgeport invented the modern manual milling machine.
What is a knee milling machine?
Knee mill or knee-and-column mill refers to any milling machine whose x-y table rides up and down the column on a vertically adjustable knee. This includes Bridgeports. Planer-style mill (Plano Milling)Large mills built in the same configuration as planers except with a milling spindle instead of a planing head.