I just bought a Bridgeport series 1, haven't had a manual mill in many years.

[Kustomizer]

It came with most of a set of Hardinge collets from 1/8 to 7/8 by 1/16ths with the exception of the 3/8, I have 2 - 5/16 instead. I ordered a 3/8 this morning . I have a 6" Kurt vise with a swivel base I can put on it. Though I am well tooled for VMC's, and some will work on both machines, all will not interchange. I will need a few tools just for the Bridgeport such as a shell mill at least 2.5 dia for aluminum and a right angle head at some point. I am looking for suggestions as to better brands/styles of these items. I see there are lots of choises for tramming the head to the table, is there a favorite these days, in the past I had a homemade bracket with a dialtest on it.

 

[g-coder05]

the right angle head is nice but look for the Bridgeport slotting attachment that goes on the back of the ram. Those are worth their weight in gold. Blind bore keys, gear shaping, preening.
Then, the f you can find one, a cherrying head.

 

[Kustomizer]

I may have a slotting attachment lined up.
I see the cherrying head now and again, what would I do with it? Bear in mind there are 5 VMC's right next to this machine.

 

[g-coder05]

I may have a slotting attachment lined up.
I see the cherrying head now and again, what would I do with it? Bear in mind there are 5 VMC's right next to this machine.

If you have CNC then odds are cherrying head wouldn’t be a big benefit. I just enjoy them since it brings back memories of a time when dies required a lot of thought and planning. Not saying they don’t require that on CNC but back in the 80’s when Mylar tape was strung up everywhere it was more economical to make a one off stove tool for Magic Chef on a knee mill.

 

[Kustomizer]

I have to be a bit carefull of what I drag home these days as I just left 7000sf for 1300, a lot of stuff had to leave to make it happen. I find myself in an odd position in the new digs as machine shops are in short supply, me and one other. The guy with the other wants to retire but some of the local mines and some hobby guys won't let him. I am thinking I will start taking some of the work from the mines as time goes by as they pay quite well when they have something down so I need some tooling for this machine but I don't need much for the VMC's.

 

[LOTT]

My vote for most useful accessory is a quick change tool holder system. Our token manual mill came out of a school with an archaic Sandvic setup that makes life way better, I don't think it's made anymore but there's other systems out there. When I'm using the manual mill it's to knock something out quick, and that makes life way better.

Thanks for posting about the cherrying head, that's pretty cool. Never seen that before.

 

[Mud]

My vote for most useful accessory is a quick change tool holder system. Our token manual mill came out of a school with an archaic Sandvic setup that makes life way better, I don't think it's made anymore but there's other systems out there. When I'm using the manual mill it's to knock something out quick, and that makes life way better.

Thanks for posting about the cherrying head, that's pretty cool. Never seen that before.

Or a power drawbar. It's like having power windows in a vehicle where you can't reach all the handles while belted in - not really a luxury.

 

[LOTT]

Or a power drawbar. It's like having power windows in a vehicle where you can't reach all the handles while belted in - not really a luxury.

Sure, that would fit the bill. We rigged up a 3/8" butterfly impact wrench to be a redneck power drawbar on another mill that's since been sold, worked pretty good. I'm sure the real power drawbars are better.

 

[Mud]

I put one on a Wells index when they first came out, because it had a riser and the normal height guys in the shop couldn't reach the top with a wrench. It has become a necessity. Speaking of risers, i can't be without that either.

 

[g-coder05]

Sure, that would fit the bill. We rigged up a 3/8" butterfly impact wrench to be a redneck power drawbar on another mill that's since been sold, worked pretty good. I'm sure the real power drawbars are better.

Heck yeah, back in the 90s I saw some guy selling them on EBay for $125 bucks: I thought It was a gimmick but worth a shot. Turned out it was hands-down one of my better investments for a manual mail. Granted I did need to keep a few extra draw bars in stock.

 

[Kustomizer]

I've been wondering about a riser, I recon I will keep an eye out for one, how tall is yours and how tall are you?
I had some kind of quick change tooling with the last one, there was a buttin to push then rotate a knurled ring and out popped a baby tool holder, I wonder If I can find one

 

[Mud]

Mine is 8", I'm 6'4" so I'm real comfortable with it, it could even be 2' taller to suit my height. It's also workable for all sizes, I've had all sizes of folks working here. It's really about clearance under the spindle for tools and workpieces. With the 8", I can still touch the spindle to the table, so the only reason for the short stock height seems to be so you can tilt the head 90° and do horizontal work close to the table. When I had 2 Wells and a clone here the one with the riser was always everyone's first choice. Now I only have this one with the riser.

 

[Vancbiker]

............I had some kind of quick change tooling with the last one, there was a buttin to push then rotate a knurled ring and out popped a baby tool holder, I wonder If I can find one

Probably DeVlieg Kwik-Switch.

Universal Devlieg - Kwik-Switch Holders

www.universaldevlieg.com

 

[Dualkit]

Heck yeah, back in the 90s I saw some guy selling them on EBay for $125 bucks: I thought It was a gimmick but worth a shot. Turned out it was hands-down one of my better investments for a manual mail. Granted I did need to keep a few extra draw bars in stock.

View attachment 256

Cool, wish I had one. My pneumatic drawbar died for the last time a year ago, I could no longer keep it together.

 

[Kustomizer]

Probably DeVlieg Kwik-Switch.

Universal Devlieg - Kwik-Switch Holders

www.universaldevlieg.com

Close, after some searching I found it, a Kingmann Rapidaptor, it worked well and didn't require any tools ot operate it

 

[Mud]

First one of those I've ever seen. What do the adapters look like?

 

[Kustomizer]

 

[Vancbiker]

A first for me too. It would be interesting to work one. Seems like it would not be easy to loosen with out a tool to loosen the lockring.

 

[Kustomizer]

They turn easy enough, there is a fairly stiff spring but not too bad and there is no tool to missplace

 

[AD Design]

it was more economical to make a one off stove tool for Magic Chef on a knee mill.

That's how it was done in Cleveland Tennessee back in the day wasn't it? How's it going g-coder05?