Which clamping kit for Bridgeport

[alexmin]

Yesterday after two years of looking I have finally found and bought a nice clean Bridgeport.
It is 2HP 3 phase variable speed. Accurite DRO on XYZ axises. Powerfeed on X axis. One-shot lube.

What clamping kit would you recommend to get for my BP?

Thanks,
Alex

 

[gadget_lover]

Congratulations!

Unfortunately, I do not know BUT....

Measure the width of the slots and you will know the size of the T-nut. That will tell you which one will fit. The stud size can vary.

Daniel

 

[precisionworks]

You found The Holy Grail of vertical mills A 2J with one shot, power table & DRO is a sweet machine to use.

The standard slot width for all Bpts is 5/8", but it's worth a quick check with a caliper. On any used Bpt, it's worth taking 15-20 minutes to run a file up and down the length of each T-slot to knock off any burrs. Do this both with the file vertical & with the file angled back into the slot to leave a chamfer on the slot edge. Then scrub the slots with a maroon Scotchbrite pad & WD-40 until they're clean.

What clamping kit would you recommend

Two ways to go, a cheap import kit or a TE-CO kit. The import kits are sold everywhere for $35-$40. They will work, and if your budget is tight & your patience is great they'll get you started.

The TE-CO kits are many times better in all areas - fit, finish & function. Some people say that clamps are clamps, but the difference is night & day. Two options are available from TE-CO, one in powdered metal & one that's forged.

The 20402PL (sometimes called the 20402P) is the powdered metal kit, available for $99 from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HGGS64/?tag=cpf0b6-20

The 20402 is forged, and costs about twice as much.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HGGS5K/?tag=cpf0b6-20

If you plan to clamp huge parts, the forged kit is worth the money, as the clamp bars will not bend or flex, no matter what. For more typical use, the PM kit does a nice job. That what I use on my mill-drill, after putting up with an import set for way too long.

 

[65535]

If you can swing the price or forged clamps over sintered parts you'll be absolutely happy you did, the forged parts are an entire magnitude stronger IMO. I personally have a bit of a shyness towards anything sintered due to the fact that it just isn't solid forged stock. (Ok nobody give me poop for inserts and lots of carbide stuff, it's almost all sintered.)

 

[cmacclel]

I have never had a problem with my $30 imported set that came with one of my mills and use it all the time.

Mac

 

[wquiles]

Two ways to go, a cheap import kit or a TE-CO kit ...

+1

I followed this advice from Barry back over a year ago and got the (I think forged) TE-CO 20413 Machinist Clamp Kit, 1/2" Table T-Slot x 3/8-16" Stud, 52 Pieces - for $76 on Ebay.

 

[alexmin]

Thank you Barry for you recommendation. I am ordering 20402P.

BTW here are some pictures of my new lathe:

 

[narey]

It seems that you all get a big project!:thumbsup:

 

[KC2IXE]

....snip...BTW here are some pictures of my new lathe:

Odd looking LATHE

 

[precisionworks]

That is a nice looking 2J :twothumbs

You'll love the X, Y, Z scales on the Acu-Rite, plus the W scale on the quill. Acu-Rite is the same DRO I have on the mill, and they provide terrific tech support, as well as documentation on every model they've made for the last 40 years.

Was that machine in a one man shop or in a tool room? It certainly never sat on the floor of a job shop - no holes in the table

 

[alexmin]

Barry,

I was told this mill is from R&D shop at some medical company.
It took me long time to come by this beauty. Most of the used BPs on local Craiglist are badly worn or overpriced.
I am very glad I found this mill!


There is also a 12" Yuasa rotary table that came with this mill.
When I had a smaller MIllrite mill years ago I often missed having a rotary table. Surprisingly many of my "simple" projects required rotary table.
I can't wait to get clamping kit and R-8 collets and start making chips.

Barry, I am thinking about ordering these collets. The seller claims that they are hardened and TIR is 0.0005" What do you think?

 

[precisionworks]

Alex, can't comment on those (having never used them). $5.20 each may be a great price or it may be more than they're worth, depending on how they're made.

The one brand you'll find in most tool rooms & job shops is Hardinge, and they are consistently well made and accurate - the OD threads are nicely ground as it the locating slot, ID threads (for a stop) are smooth, and diameter is accurate - neither too large nor too small when gripping known size stock like turned-ground-polished drill rod. $12 each from Plaza Machinery, about half of retail. I have a set of 35 coming soon & will post photos.

 

[alexmin]

Barry,

I am looking at Plaza Machinery inventory list and can see only Bridgeport collets for $12. If he still have Hardinge collets I'll get a dozen of them for the end mills I already have and will be buying more as I go along.


Thanks,
Alex

 

[precisionworks]

WHOOPS - you need R8 and I quickly looked at them and thought 5C

Send an email to Joe to see what he has, as he doesn't always list everything available. You might also want to consider an ER40 collet chuck, buying collets as needed, as that allows going up to 1". The 1" size is nice as it allows running a 1" solid carbide end mill as well as 1" straight shank (and Weldon shank) tooling.

 

[alexmin]

Barry,

do you have any brand recommendation for ER40 chuck?

Thanks,
Alex

 

[precisionworks]

Quite a few people like the Bison ER40 chuck, which is available by itself or in a set. A ball bearing collet nut is a nice addition. I bought a set like this & filled in the missing sizes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BISON-TOOLMEX-R...m&pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item45f0e1662b

That isn't a bad price, but someone like Johnson Cutting Tools may be able to do better, as might Rocky at Ajax Industries.

 

[alexmin]

Just talked to Tom from Johnson Cutting Tools.
Really great guy. He'll be on my "Approved vendors" list.
Thanks, Barry.

 

[Per-Sev]

That is one sweet machine its been a long time since I ran one but I remember they bought the cheap hold downs and we were always bending or breaking them but they did see some hard use also but I believe that you get what you pay for so I would buy the forged ones. The machine did not come with any tooling did you get a vise with it, you said you got a rotary table that's nice to have. I remember all the problems we had with a cheap collet kit half of them would not thread in the stud and we had to re-thread them and some just broke when we tightened them down. The owner was cheap but he learned after a while and starting buying the good stuff. I don't know what brands we used because I never did the ordering I would just run the mill and lathe. When you spend 50 hours a week on the same two machines you learn what works and what does not and when ever I saw that china sticker I new it would not last long. All my own tools were Starrett and they never failed.

 

[alexmin]

Yes, I got a 6" Enco vise. I wish it was Kurt.
But I am not ready to pay $600 for a Kurt yet.
May be later I'll get a Glacern vise: http://www.glacern.com/gsv_690

 

[wquiles]

Quite a few people like the Bison ER40 chuck, which is available by itself or in a set. A ball bearing collet nut is a nice addition.

+1 on the Bison set

+1 on the ball bearing collet

I have a project almost finished in which I took a "few" pictures and you guys will see the Bison/BB collet nut in action :devil: