BRIDGEPORT MILL Tramming or Indicating the Head to Zero

[qaz179]

Thanks - you explained it really well. Great voice as well btw.

[lexichronicle2]

"Too much room for error."

Your proposed method is categorically more error prone. To accurately manipulate something, you must measure and adjust one variable at a time; the tilt. Yours involves manipulating 3 axes; x/z & tilt.

There's no need to zero the quill. It should be extended only to magnify the tilt error.

There's also no need to move the knee, the indicators are designed to slide over things.

A mic standard is more susceptible to false errors caused by table bumps.

[agwhitaker]

Too much room for error.

Instead, put a 1" micrometer standard in the middle of the table.

Fit a test indicator on 4" radius arm on the spindle.

Move the table to the left, and touch the indicator to the standard, raise table till the indicator zeroes.

Set Z axis dial at zero, then lower the table .200"

Move table to the right and turn the spindle 180 degrees till the indicator tip is right over the standard.

Raise the table .200" and note the indicator difference.

Adjust by 1/2 and continue.

[alexbarlage]

can this be used also for nodding alignment also?

[FORD197200]

BRAVO TUBALCAIN AND THANKYOU. I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE LUGS THAT ARE THERE FOR ALIGNING WITH A SQUARE. GREAT INFO HERE THANKS FOR PASSING ON STUFF LIKE THIS TO A YOUNGER GENERATION BEFORE IT ALL BECOMES A LOST ART.

[gobigcorley]

During moving my "J" Head Bridgeport across my shop to its primary location I rotated the head 360 deg. to counter ballance the machine. Now that the machine is where it is supposed to be, can you explain the process of truing the head prerfectly perpendicular to the table.

As a beginer mill opperator your videos have been extreamly helpful! Thank you for all you do...it is great

[priority2]

Teachers like you are becoming harder and harder to find nowadays. God Bless You for sharing your knowledge.

[730M]

learned more in a couple of your vids then I did in school I can use your info for my home shop without trying to figure in out and taking hours and wasting time Keep teaching I'll keep watching

[WATERJET1971]

oh Boy you brought me back at least 20 plus years back with this video. YOU ARE THE MAN

[JimboFreerider]

Thanks for sharing your videos, I start a new toolmaking job on Monday and have been out of engineering for a while, I would have been really nervous if it wasn't for re familiarising myself with milling and turning procedures through watching your videos. Now I can walk in with the confidence that I can remember the correct techniques and it's all thanks to you. I really can't thank you enough!

[snaproll94e]

You are the man and thanks for all of your videos. I'm a self taught machinest, been looking over the shoulders of a lot of good ones for the past 20 years and have learned a lot. Your videos fill in the blanks and I sincerely appreciate it. BTW, your last statement is so true!

[Glmoon75]

"After all we're machinist and we're striving for perfection, usually not getting it." The man speaks the truth. Thank you again mrpete222 for sharing your knowledge.

[Conan568]

I'm looking to buy a Bridegport down the road.

I was originally going to become a machinist but missed one math class to many and ended up logging for 25 years.

Even the little I did learn in machine shop served me well through the years.

Shop class is essential.

Great videos

[clifton77208]

Everytime I find a useful video about machining, your name is on it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[kubroid]

Great video! Thanks!

[dawg1157]

Outstanding video, Sir....enjoyed it thoroughly!

[mini77boy]

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed watching your videos and learning very useful information from them. I am a beginner machinist and eager to learn how to do things the RIGHT way. I'm sorry to hear that the Tubal Cain in England is no longer with us, but I am so glad, at the same time, to hear that you are still living. I have bought many of the English Tubal Cain's books and have found them quite useful.

[ohgood]

i don't know if anyone has told you, but you have a voice for radio. just stumbled upon your videos tonight, subscribed, and will enjoy watching while i'm lapping up the gravy at work. thanks for contributing so much.

[mrpete222]

@ohgood THANKS--because my face sure isn't for TV.

[jeetendrag10acc2]

@mrpete222 i don;t care how you look like,but i would sure watch your tv show if you made one.

[teebee1984]

@mrpete222 I've worked on Bridgeports for 40 years and I never knew what the notches on the machine head was for!! Pre squaring the head!

[apage251]

You can also put the machine in neutral and turn the spindle with you fingers, but you have the be careful that you don't bump your indicator or the piece holding it. That is what I do because the machine I use is a variable speed model and you can't easily get to the belt.

[harleyghost]

thank you my friend for the great tip.

[pEnSaNdOeNTiNiNa]

no thanx to you ...lol the funny part is that today first thing as soon i started my shift...i when and cut me a piece of rod to put my button indicator on. and it did the job more easy! and fast...really thanx so much...i will do the same one day for some kid out there.....thanx and god bless!!!

[bboymanuel]

Hello sir my name is Manny. And im attending NTMA training center in Ontario, CA. Any tips?

[pEnSaNdOeNTiNiNa]

hello my name is Beto...and you just dont know how much u help me with ur video thanx for ur time on doing this let me tell you really quick...just got hire at this company and tomorrow i have to zero out the head and i had no idea...but with this.....mannnnn ill b good to good. thanx so much AND GOD BLESS YOU!

[mrpete222]

@pEnSaNdOeNTiNiNa Thanks Beto--your nice letter made my day.

[Volvo745T]

Of the probably 10,000 videos I've watched from work, here's one that actually pertains to my job! Thanks ... just stumbled across your series.

[mrpete222]

@Volvo745T THANKS for your encouragement.

[sntrobotics]

Thanks friend!

[sinkosav]

very educative video,thanks for sharing your know-how with us...

now I know how to indicate table on my mill.Only used for hobby,I am not machinist...but spend free time with my mill and lathe in garage...thanks from Croatia--good work,keep going

[mrpete222]

THANKS

[icantdrive65]

Put the spindle in neutral to sweep. Some Bridgeports don't have access to the belts.

I prefer a tram ring to parallels if one is available.

[timeonfilm]

Excellent video.

it was very informative and your years of experience show very well

thank you for posting this.

[camochannel1]

thanks so much. great video. very informative

[willysnowman]

Great stuff. Thanks!

[fcguy7]

wonderful video

[GroovyVideo2]

Thanks-- Great video--

[mrpete222]

Thanks for an excellent comment and suggestion.

[Mohammets]

Great video.  Very informative. It's splitting more hairs, but if it's important to anyone, (those in the gage/fixture trade) lowering the quill all the way down will exaggerate your reading. Meaning, if your indicator is showing out of square about .001", with the quill all the way down you'll be showing two or three thousandths out. I notice in the video that he had the quill down, but did not mention it's importance.

My trade is all about splitting hairs. Sorry!

[l98c4]

I've used Bridgeports for yrs, didn't know what those lugs were for. Tnx

[mrpete222]

Thanks---You know, the bridgeport doesn't come with an instruction manual.

[alderaforall]

wow, this used to take me forever to accomplish in school. The memories of frustration are coming back.

[mrpete222]

No--he is from England. And I think dead now.

[malcookie]

Are you the same Tubal Cain that writes the workshop practise books?

[danceswithjunk]

very nice informational video for a new mill owners like myself. Thanks and great job.

[mrpete222]

Thanks for your interest