Last year I hit the "home machine shop lottery" when my work decided to give me a couple machines from the former shop. I snagged a 50x14 Clausing engine lathe as well as a very well equipped Bridgeport Series 2 mill. Trailered it all home and had the neighbor pluck them off with his Bobcat T300.
The mill has Accurite CNC (gen1), power drawbar, vice, a Hardinge rotary axis, lube pump, and some tooling. Came from a clean machine shop with very light use and maintained well. CNC servos were just serviced / replaced before they let the last machinist go. I've seen it run and perform some amazing feats.
Onto the problem. When I was moving the Bridgeport home, I loosened the 4 main head bolts and successfully rotated the mill head 180-deg for transport. Then the mill sat in my shop with a heat shrink poly boat wrap for 14months. Finally got my rotary phase converter and decided to uncover the machine and get it setup. First thing I did was a mistake: I forgot to loosen 1 of the 4 head bolts and ended up snapping the worm gear shaft fairly easily. I was excited, what can I say. Made me so angry because the head moves so freely/effortlessly when the bolts are loosened. I just got carried away with the impact gun. New worm gear / bolt on order.
So now I'm pulling the mill's head. ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD MAINTAIN OR REPLACE WHILE I'M IN THERE WITH THE HEAD OFF?
Thanks for your help!
The mill has Accurite CNC (gen1), power drawbar, vice, a Hardinge rotary axis, lube pump, and some tooling. Came from a clean machine shop with very light use and maintained well. CNC servos were just serviced / replaced before they let the last machinist go. I've seen it run and perform some amazing feats.
Onto the problem. When I was moving the Bridgeport home, I loosened the 4 main head bolts and successfully rotated the mill head 180-deg for transport. Then the mill sat in my shop with a heat shrink poly boat wrap for 14months. Finally got my rotary phase converter and decided to uncover the machine and get it setup. First thing I did was a mistake: I forgot to loosen 1 of the 4 head bolts and ended up snapping the worm gear shaft fairly easily. I was excited, what can I say. Made me so angry because the head moves so freely/effortlessly when the bolts are loosened. I just got carried away with the impact gun. New worm gear / bolt on order.
So now I'm pulling the mill's head. ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD MAINTAIN OR REPLACE WHILE I'M IN THERE WITH THE HEAD OFF?
Thanks for your help!