[PROJECT] New to me "Ferro" Bridgeport clone mill.

[johnnyc14]

(07-05-2015, 08:58 AM)PixMan Wrote: Amazing work, and really good documentation. It brings me back to Darren's project in so many ways. You learned what we should have learned sooner, that you can buy the LH threaded rod in 1.25" for so much less than it takes to make it.

One question though, had you given any consideration to switching over to ballscrews on the X & Y while it was all apart? That could have afforded making it at least a two axis CNC for reasonable cost.

Anyhow, nice machine and you'll really appreciate having the increased mass, power and travel to work with in the future.

Thanks PixMan. I know nothing about CNC machining as I am a novice hobby machinist. I doubt I will ever consider converting this machine over but I never say never! It would be interesting to read about someone else's conversion though. Ball screws would be smoother and have no backlash I assume. They would probably last forever also.

You are right about the cost of the LH tread acme rod, the 3 foot long piece I bought cost $45. Making the threaded rod or the nuts is out of the question for my novice skills.

I am really enjoying this bigger mill, as you say, it has so much more mass and power that it makes every job I've done on it seem effortless. At some point I'm probably going to sell my 2 year old PM932PFD mill as I really don't have space for both of them but it is cool to have them both set up for different tasks.

John