Fancy drill press

[JRP]

I bought this fancy drill press at an auction that no one showed up to. It's pretty cool because the clamp area can be moved around under the drill with cranks. On the way home at a gas station a guy offered me $500 for it. I was tempted to take it to the bank and be happy, but I also thought this would be fun so turned it down. He said the box is a computer number console and the motors move the drill, which can drill sideways.

The book is about 3" thick so I have some reading to do.

 

[k0ua]

"fancy drill press" my eye! I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night!, and I hoped you paid a heck of a lot more than $500 dollars for that nice mill!

James K0UA

 

[brain55]

That sure is one fancy drill press. If it gets too complicated to figure out, I'm sure there are a whole bunch of guys here that will trade you for a more simple drill press. One without that fancy TV screen looking thing with all the buttons on it, or all of those handles and cranks. Heck, why would you want to drill sideways anyways.:laughing:

Brian

 

[Marveltone]

Cool! Does it come in a cordless version?

Joe

 

[sandman2234]

Looks like a proto-trak, not sure due to viewing the picture on a 4" screen. Prices for them start at about $3k and go up. Learning the programing is harder to do than just reading the book, but the outcome is worth it if you intend to make complex or semi complex parts. Heck, even wheel spacers are easy to do with a Proto-Trak. If all you need is a drill press, list it for sale and buy the best drill press on the market and put the rest of the money in the bank. (Or I will trade you my Bridgeport/cash for yours, dispite already having too many milling machines...
David from jax

 

[TWD]

I will give you $800 :laughing:

Nice score! Be sure to share what you make with that :thumbsup:

 

[ToadHill]

I can't read the tag but it looks a lot like a Bridgeport Mill to me.

 

[rswyan]

I can't read the tag but it looks a lot like a Bridgeport Mill to me.

That's what the writing at the top of the head says ....

 

[Toyboy]

Bridgeport is the Cadillac of milling machines. If the computer/NC control is good, you've got one heck of a machine. If it's not, you've got some major headaches. You can do most everything with that machine. What type control does it have?

 

[sandman2234]

I can't read the tag but it looks a lot like a Bridgeport Mill to me.

Proto Trak uses Bridgeport Mills to adapt to their controls.

As far as Bridgeport being the "Cadilac" of milling machines, I would have to argue. They were just like VHS tapes and Internet Explorer, as they had the right timing and backing, not the best product. Just for the record, I have a small homeshop with 4 milling machines and one is a 2J Bridgeport.
David from jax

 

[chickenman]

the thing with the bridgeport knee mill with the j head, it was the swiss army knife of mills and what it gave up was robustness

the quality of the early ones was better than the later textron made mills.

a decent copy was made in spain.

 

[Toyboy]

I should have said "they were" the Cadillac of milling machines. Every tool room/machine shop had one/some. I keep forgetting that I've been out of manufacturing since '95 and really don't know the quality of today's machine tools.

 

[mmurphy]

I hope you lose just a little sleep over a steal like that!!!!:laughing:

 

[JRP]

You guys are right. I have learned some. It does say Bridgeport and the big control back is Anilam. It also is called a mill not a drill press, and the cutter that cuts sideways is called a ... milling cutter. They are expensive. It turns out every thing on this beast is expensive. The work clamp is called KURT and they are outrageous.

The motor would not run right - only hummed until I twisted it, then it started turning, but slow. My neighbor said it uses three wire electricity and I have only two connected, so I need an electricians help to install another wire.

The control box box just plugs in the wall and turned ON ok and has numbers that change when I turn the cranks. The manual reads like a math book.

 

[metalcaster]

It takes 3 phase power. Do not run it on your single phase as eventually it will ruin the motor. It may also be set up for 460 volt 3 phase. Get some help from an industrial electrician.

You can purchase a phase converter reasonably or build one from an old 3 phase motor-so I'm told. Join the forums at cnczone.com and start doing some reading.

 

[sandman2234]

I bought my Bridgeport and it came with a static convertor. Never bothered to upgrade to a more expensive/better rotary phase converter.
Be careful with it, when you get it wired up. They can and will hurt you and themselves in a hurry. A nice implement to have on a tractor forum, but some guidance will go a long way in making life better.
If you get it wired up, send me a PM and I will donate a couple endmills to you to get you started. You might have to pay flatrate shipping on them, depending on what kind of mood I am in when I go to the post office.

Just a footnote, but my Avatar is the reduction gears from a Fray All Angle Milling Machine. They were a weakspot due to being able to tear them up if you didn't follow the directions, which nobody had acess to, lately...
I came across a good set and they are on loan to another friend who is trying to duplicate them.
David from jax

 

[czechsonofagun]

Here is a good tool source for the home machinist - Enco.

 

[mjncad]

Either JRP is pulling our leg, or he scored one heck of a deal by getting a Bridgeport mill with DRO (Digital Read Out) and a Kurt vise for peanuts.

Now if I only had a place for it, I'd be glad to take it off his hands.

 

[rswyan]

Either JRP is pulling our leg, or he scored one heck of a deal by getting a Bridgeport mill with DRO (Digital Read Out) and a Kurt vise for peanuts.

I don't believe he ever actually said what he paid for it - just that he was offered $500 for it.

 

[mjncad]

I don't believe he ever actually said what he paid for it - just that he was offered $500 for it.

You're right, the OP didn't.