- Joined
- Aug 21, 2023
- Messages
- 153
Bridgeport mills are the most versatile machines in any shop. They are even found in shops that specialize in CNC machining. My first home starter mill was a Bridgeport. As a home Machine Hobbyist I am happy that I didn't start off with a table top mill. Rather I honed in on a Bridgeport round ram mill with a 36” table and a 1J one HP head in 1970. The dovetail models were introduced in the mid fifties and were in demand. But the cost of the round ram mills were less than half the dovetail. Plus there's nothing wrong with the simplicity of an open belt one HP head. The high speed open belt at 660 RPM's was the ideal speed for so many operations. And more than enough HP for the sturdiness of the Bridgeport design. And the smaller 36” table had a smaller footprint in a limited space home shop to work around.
Two disadvantages of this Bridgeport only tilted left and right no nod. And most likely the head had to be trued when the ram was moved.
Five years later I came across a dovetail model with a variable 2J head. And I had two mills.
Wishing to enter the CNC world at home. I came across a Bridgeport EZ-Trak DX two axis CNC mill. To make room I sold my round ram Bridgeport. Yet today I feel that was a huge mistake on my part. Leaving the old round ram go that is...
Fast forward to three years ago I replaced the EZ-Trak and the Bridgeport dovetail mills with a Cleveland CNC AV-35 bed mill and a CKV22 Cleveland manual Mill.
I'll get into this CNC mill later...
CKV-2
Two options I added to this mill that were a mistake. The power draw bar is difficult to use, Rather reach above the head to change cutter the old fashion way.. Plus the use of spindle attachments like angle head may be even more troublesome. The second I would not ordered the power X axis drive. The knee and cross feed handles clash with one another.. Plus how often is there a need to power X axis. Should have put it on the knee instead... Plus the standard 3 HP head motor is an over kill...
Clevenland Machinery re-badges the Atrump name. Atrump Machinery located in Pomona California is an importer of Taiwanese machinery, and has been around for 35 years. All of their equipment is top quality at very competitive prices. One could own nearly two of these for the price of one Bridgeport. At last checking, Bridgeport's are made in India. I would say the Cleveland can stand head to head with any USA built Bridgeport. Let alone the imported versions..
Two disadvantages of this Bridgeport only tilted left and right no nod. And most likely the head had to be trued when the ram was moved.
Five years later I came across a dovetail model with a variable 2J head. And I had two mills.
Wishing to enter the CNC world at home. I came across a Bridgeport EZ-Trak DX two axis CNC mill. To make room I sold my round ram Bridgeport. Yet today I feel that was a huge mistake on my part. Leaving the old round ram go that is...
Fast forward to three years ago I replaced the EZ-Trak and the Bridgeport dovetail mills with a Cleveland CNC AV-35 bed mill and a CKV22 Cleveland manual Mill.
I'll get into this CNC mill later...
CKV-2
Two options I added to this mill that were a mistake. The power draw bar is difficult to use, Rather reach above the head to change cutter the old fashion way.. Plus the use of spindle attachments like angle head may be even more troublesome. The second I would not ordered the power X axis drive. The knee and cross feed handles clash with one another.. Plus how often is there a need to power X axis. Should have put it on the knee instead... Plus the standard 3 HP head motor is an over kill...
Clevenland Machinery re-badges the Atrump name. Atrump Machinery located in Pomona California is an importer of Taiwanese machinery, and has been around for 35 years. All of their equipment is top quality at very competitive prices. One could own nearly two of these for the price of one Bridgeport. At last checking, Bridgeport's are made in India. I would say the Cleveland can stand head to head with any USA built Bridgeport. Let alone the imported versions..
