moving a bridgeport

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
Guys, I have an opportunity to get a Bridgeport milling machine for a really good price, the only problem is that I'm not sure how I'm going to get it into the basement. How hard is it to break one of these down? I would like to remove the head, knee, table and anything else to make it easier to move.. Anything to be aware of ?? How hard is it to get it backtogether and adjusted again ?? Thanks for any ideas ..
 
Wow.

I don't know, I've never tried it, taking one all apart like that. Won't be trivial, but I think it would be do-able. And then you'll really know your mill inside and out. Might be the first time the thrust bearings on the feed screws ever get cleaned and greased too...

I think you can remove the feed screw with the feed nut still on it, as a unit.

If you remove the gibs and disconnect the feed screws, the entire axis could slid off I think. I'd remove the head and top end, then the X, then Y and Z last. Except for the base casting, I'll bet there no single component too heavy for two men to lift.

If it has automatic oilers, power feed and glass scales, the job gets bigger.

I expect it'll take more than a day and more than a few Advil.

BTW, my wife says you're crazy.
 
A gunsmith friend of mine did that some years ago. I don't know the details but it can be done .Take it apart, carry it down, put it back together .Sounds simple to me !!
 
Wow I jest have to say good luck! I wish I could be of some help, but I have no idea. Sounds like a big project. My dad built an adition poured the floor and built around his lathe and mill. That was the only way he could get them inside:)
 
I took a look at the wooden stairs going downstairs and figured that they would not support the weight of the base casting and two or three men it would take.

I went out a bought a table top mill and took it apart to get downstairs.

My big knee mill is at work in the industrial unit.
 
Think basement doors :D
If I remember my pocket ref correctly, cast iron is something like 493 pounds per cubic foot, I cannot believe that the body casting of a bridgeport is less than 3 cubic feet of iron, and I don't know of any household stairs that are designed to handle a moving load of 3/4 ton. I would approach the idea of taking it down stairs with extreme caution and a structural analysis

just my opinion

-Page
 
Man, I know for sure, my Jet Mill weighs 2200 pounds, and it's made from Meehanite casting (weighs less than Iron).

Good luck with that, but I'd rather smash my nuts in a vise repeatedly than take one apart and re-assemble it.

Actually, taking it apart, not so bad..........re-assembling it..........ugggggghhhhh!

Seriously, I'd have a Bridgeport service rep or someone in the know, come and do it with you. Dialing everything back in is going to be difficult to say the least.....

MT
 
I looked at the mill today and I think that it is a go.. I plan to make a ramp of 4x4's covered with plywood down the stairs so I can spread the weight out over a large surface area. The seller has agreed to help me pull the head, table and knee off... It really doesn't look all that difficult to tear down :). Tearing the machine down to it's component parts should put the heaviest piece (the base) at +/- 600lbs. As an ironworker I don't think that the rigging will present too much of a problem for me.. I just hope that the reassemble goes ok.. I've never done anything like this before..
 
Mark Terrell said:
Man, I know for sure, my Jet Mill weighs 2200 pounds, and it's made from Meehanite casting (weighs less than Iron).

Good luck with that, but I'd rather smash my nuts in a vise repeatedly than take one apart and re-assemble it.

Actually, taking it apart, not so bad..........re-assembling it..........ugggggghhhhh!

Seriously, I'd have a Bridgeport service rep or someone in the know, come and do it with you. Dialing everything back in is going to be difficult to say the least.....

MT
Click to expand...


Well set me on fire and kick me in the nuts. (is that a reference to the cove?, is that allowed?)

I don't believe there is gonna be a bunch of "dialing back in". I think the squareness (is squareness a word?) of X, Y and Z are not adjustable on a solid cast and ground design like the Bridgeport. Realign the feed screws if there if they weren't doweled, tram the head (you need to do that anyway) and tighten the gibs. You're hot to trot, no?

2 of my mills are made of Meehanite. I just thought that was brand name cast iron? Not the same density? You'd probably be real close using .280 pounds per cubic inch. I don't know exactly what Meehanite weighs, a but my littlest mill is over a ton for only 9" by 14" travel, and the big one is 5,500 lbs. That stuff adds up quick.

I think the base of that mill will be more than 600 lbs
 
rocketman, send me your phone number. i'm on the phone with a guy who used to do this for a living. he's willing to talk to you.
 
sunshadow said:
Think basement doors :D
If I remember my pocket ref correctly, cast iron is something like 493 pounds per cubic foot, I cannot believe that the body casting of a bridgeport is less than 3 cubic feet of iron, and I don't know of any household stairs that are designed to handle a moving load of 3/4 ton. I would approach the idea of taking it down stairs with extreme caution and a structural analysis

just my opinion

-Page
Click to expand...

I was wrong, cast iron is 450pounds per cubic foot, rolled steel is 495 pounds per cubic foot

-Page
 
Richard , PM sent.... I ain't scared !!!! :D This baby is going down .. the stairs that is !! Page, the entire unit is less than a ton. After removing the head, table and knee I hope to cut the weight by a third.. We start the breakdown process on thursday, it may take a few afternoons to get it to my place.. with a little luck I could have it home by the weekend.
 
1st off I must apologise for the lack of photographic documentation of this endeavor. Well, today we tore the mill down to it's component parts.. It took us 2 hours, not too bad considering neither of us had ever done such a thing before.. We removed the table and power feed 1st, then came the saddle, next was the head/turrent assembly finally we removed the knee... The tools consisted of 2 allen wrenches, a screwdriver and a huge rubber hammer.. We lifted the parts with a engine hoist... Hopefully on Saturday afternoon I will bring everything but the base home and begin the degreasing process.. There must be 3 gallons of grease and metal shavings inside. The plan to get the base of the mill into the basement is to cover the stairs with 4x4's and use a 12ft tall tripod and a chainfall to lower the base down the stairs... I will provide pic's of the rest of the project.
 
Dont forget your safety factor of 10 when dealing with expensive wonderful machines...:D Have fun :thumbup: :)
 
You Can Do It...I did! Had to go 60 miles to another town ..winch on rollers into a trailer..bring it home unload it .. find a power head...have it hauled here from Houston...Build a temp overhead crane to lift and mount the head which includes a 5 hp 3 phase motor! Them had to design and build a static converter for the 3 phase...so there it is and I love it! Have fun and stay out from under the load! Bill
 
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