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Model Forum / General / Models / December 2006How big is a bridgeport?
Hi all, Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, but how much space do you need to have around them to be able to use them? Ive only seen them in big workshops, and since I accidentally bought a ladder that was *much* bigger than I needed when it looked quite short in the warehouse Id like some idea of whether I can reasonably fit one into my rather full garage/workshop, before I go looking for a good one, or if I should consider something else (probably smaller - open to recommendations?). thanks Dave > Hi all, > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Dave I would guess mine is in an area of about 9 foot by 8 foot. Bob > Hi all, > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Dave Dave have a look here: http://tinyurl.com/msarn This is my Bridgy being delivered and installed in a single garage. It lives with an ML7, an Eagle Grinder, bandsaw, drill, bench, and the wifes washing machine. Gets a bit tight in there sometimes depending on how well I've tidied up (or not). Peer > > Hi all, > > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Peer FWIW, lowering the knee and inverting the head, makes shifting BPs a lot safer. Tom  SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> > Hi all, >> > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >Tom So's taking the buggers to bits, fits in a standard transit then, ask Keith <g> -- Regards, John Stevenson Nottingham, England. Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:- http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/ > >> > Hi all, > >> > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:- > http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/ John, never doubted for a second! The trick is to watch carefully with eyes closed as a "professional" takes it apart and loads it; best done with the hire companies words ringing in your ears - this is a brand new van so take care of it. Particularly effective as you are asked to get the forklift brakes from where they are leaning against the wall and apply them (throw them in front of the wheels!) when the base is far enough in?? No problem fits like a glove and still room for a few accessories (thank you John) and the sandwiches. Drive 150miles arriving at 11.30pm with this brand new Transit that has to be back at the hire company at 7am the next morning. Armed with a cheap engine crane, wife and 19 year old son, out it all pops safe as houses, well it looked like it in the dark anyway. [VBG] They are large for the average workshop but not unmanageable unless you want to dance round it like a maypole. Mine has the ram positioned in a window recess and with the table fully back against the base I still have room for a 2' bench behind it and up to the base on one side. The table extends in front of the bench when the mill is in use. The other side I have a storage rack. So if you are prepared to fit things round it you will be surprised how quickly it merges into the background. Obviously a bit limiting in the work envelope but I bet I can use 80% of the capacity without moving anything. I don't have the actual measurements from wall, etc but if you need them I will get them for you tomorrow. As Peter's picture shows they do stick out a fair way from the wall so if you have a single garage they don't leave much room to put things opposite them. If you could get it on the end wall might have a little less impact. I'm lucky that I have a double garage but the Bridgy still looks big and a bit "overpowering" in that, at least that was something like the wife said, funny she doesn't swear too often. To be honest, boring common sense might have had me getting a VMC/Marlow or something a bit smaller, but hell you only live once and I really wanted a Bridgeport. Don't regret it at all. Best regards Keith > > >> > Hi all, > > >> > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 75 lines] > > Keith Moving one doesnt hold <much> fear, but getting home and it not fitting would be a problem. I was thinking of putting it accross the short axis of the garage, which is about 8 feet wide iirc, but I do have little pieces of cardboard which a scale sized for my current occupants, and a scale floor plan, so I can shift things around to see where they fit easily.(I also have to get an L5, a 4'x2'6 surface table, a 4'x3' server safe, an alba shaper, a Mini, assorted tooling and compressor/welder etc in...I think I need a bigger garage...) Judging from Peters photo if I allow about 4 1/2 feet from a wall and about 6 feet wide would that be reasonable? thanks Dave > > > >> > Hi all, > > > >> > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 91 lines] > > Dave Dave, no problems with the width, but the depth is a little bit tight if the ram is to go back far enough to get the spindle over the edge of the table when it is as far forward on the knee as it will go. Mine is 57" from the wall to the front most tip of the operating handle and I have the advantage of allowing the ram to go 5" into a window recess if necessary. Obviously you still need room to stand in front to operate it but I'm sure (unlike me) you wouldn't forget that. At 57" the ram is back far enough to position the spindle approximately over the centre of the knee. Best of luck Keith Dave If you put the ram midway so that its in the middle of the bed you will probably find this is satifactory for 90% of the work done if it does need more depth keep a pair of 1/2" dia rollers handy slip these under the base and you will find it's quite easy to pull it forward or back with ease I do it on mine with no problems as long as you keep the floor tidy around the base. Colin >I do it on mine with no problems as long as you keep the floor tidy around >the base. Colin I'm not familiar with this concept and I'm sure that there are others who are also confused by it. Could you explain it to us please? Mark Rand <G> RTFM >> John, never doubted for a second! The trick is to watch carefully with >> eyes closed as a "professional" takes it apart and loads it; best done [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > >Dave Will this help ? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stevenson.engineers/lsteve/files/floorplan.jpg -- Regards, John Stevenson Nottingham, England. Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:- http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/ > >> John, never doubted for a second! The trick is to watch carefully with > >> eyes closed as a "professional" takes it apart and loads it; best done [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stevenson.engineers/lsteve/files/floorplan.jpg > -- Thats exactly the kind of thing I need. :) Thanks. One thing I had forgotten was the third dimension, height. The roof is about 7 foot or so (possibly a bit more) so i dont think that will cause a problem? Dave > > >> John, never doubted for a second! The trick is to watch carefully with > > >> eyes closed as a "professional" takes it apart and loads it; best done [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > > Dave Dave I think they vary a bit in height and mine is the step pully version with the 9 wire american motor so one of the shortest you can get. It stands 6' 8" from floor to top of motor with the head vertical. If you wanted to fully remove a drawer bar without tilting the head you would need another 16" or so above that. Obviously you can tilt the head to remove the bar if necessary. The later vari speed head is taller and typically stands at 7' 5" tall so could cause a problem for you. Regards Keith > Dave > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Keith Sorry, a "drawer bar ", just what was I thinking about, certainly not the spelling!! Keith > > > >> John, never doubted for a second! The trick is to watch carefully with > > > >> eyes closed as a "professional" takes it apart and loads it; best done [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] > The later vari speed head is taller and typically stands at 7' 5" tall > so could cause a problem for you. Guess I need to actually measure the ceiling height tonight then. Dave >Guess I need to actually measure the ceiling height tonight then. > >Dave I acknowledge that whilst you may need to loosen & retighten the draw bar frequently to change collets/chucks/cutters actually removing it is a different issue. Charles > >Guess I need to actually measure the ceiling height tonight then. > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Charles Agreed Charles but only if your tooling has the same drawbar thread. While I uderstand that is more likely with the R8 tooling if you try to make use of R8/MT adaptors etc that is not a given. Another good reason for going the ER route. Tilting the head is not a problem though. Best regards Keith > > >Guess I need to actually measure the ceiling height tonight then. > > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > make use of R8/MT adaptors etc that is not a given. Another good reason > for going the ER route. Tilting the head is not a problem though. The Ceiling is 7'10" :), and from my cardboard cutouts if i rearrange *ALL* the heavy cast iron and steel things, and the cupboards and shelves (just a little job then!) I can probably get one in and have sace to use it. I think I might have to lose the shaper, but once I have a mill I doubt Ill use it much anyway. I assume a clone will be much the same size, are there any perticular clones to favor / avoid assuming I come accross one? thanks for the useful info so far Dave Beware dave alot of the clone type bridgeports have longer beds usually 48 x 9 needing that extra distance to travel best of luck. Colin >FWIW, lowering the knee and inverting the head, makes shifting BPs >a lot safer. > >Tom Yes, it does, pictures of the Beaver when we collected it a year or so back at: http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/Beaver1.jpg http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/Beaver2.jpg http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/Beaver3.jpg http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/Beaver4.jpg http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/Beaver5.jpg Peter -- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: diesel@easynet.co.uk Web: http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel > > Hi all, > > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Peer Well chuck the washing machine out - obvious really ! AWEM > Well chuck the washing machine out - obvious really ! > > AWEM The thought had crossed my mind Andrew, but I don't think I'd get away with it:) then campingstoveman wrote: > Peter, > Didn't look that bad to me, made my garage look jam packed :-)) > > Martin P Ahh, but thats 'cos all the junk has been dumped in a shed round the back prior to clearing the rest of it out to clean up<g>. I swear that I've ended up buying so many 'bargain' bits from boot sales and e-bay that I'm now getting pleasant surprises when I move something on the bench and find something underneath that I'd forgotten I had. Lots of those 'useful some day' things.... Peter Peter, Didn't look that bad to me, made my garage look jam packed :-)) Martin P >> Hi all, >> Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Peer > Hi all, > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Dave Along with the other suggestions posted, I have seen recommendations that the mill be set at 45 degrees into a corner to minimize the waste space. Don Young > > Hi all, > > Ive seen a few Bridgeports, and I know they have 42 odd inch tables, [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Along with the other suggestions posted, I have seen recommendations that > the mill be set at 45 degrees into a corner to minimize the waste space. Seems like a good idea, but I dont have any spare corners... Dave > Along with the other suggestions posted, I have seen recommendations that > the mill be set at 45 degrees into a corner to minimize the waste space. Exactly how mine used to be arranged in the old workshop setup. This has an added advantage in that in kind of contains the chips a fair bit. Wayne... > > Along with the other suggestions posted, I have seen recommendations that > > the mill be set at 45 degrees into a corner to minimize the waste space. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Wayne... Yes - that's how my manual Bridgeport is set up - across a corner - with strategic notches cut in high level shelving to allow the ram to rotate to let the shaper head see the table on those rare occassions that it's used. The CNC Bridgeport (Interact 1) sits in a recessed bay as it is more square than triangular like the manual one. AWEM |
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