Bridgeport BTC 2 Mill

[DennisCNC]

Here is a link to the thread on the zone of the BTC mill that I just finished:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34843

The viper drives are running pretty good.  Need to sort out some noise on the VFD speed control wire that make the rpm go up and down a little while cutting.  I get 125 IPM rapids with 91v to the drives, the motors are 140v I'm starting low and if I need the speed latter i'll get a different transformer for the power supply.

[Hood]

Looks good Dennis
 Do you have the toolchanger working yet? I am doing a Beaver mill (similar size as a series 2 Bridgeport) and hope someday to build myself a changer.

Hood

[DennisCNC]

Hood,

I was not planing from the beginning to use the original changer because it was a very complex and scary contraption.  I took it off and just kept the carousel.   If a need comes up for a tool changer I will build one for like 5-6 tools,  have the spindle got to the top tool change position the carousel with the tools swing under the spindle then raise up into the taper draw bar grab the tool and the carousel swings away.   

[Chaoticone]

Looking good Dennis

Brett

[Hood]

Does the drawbar only work with the quill in the fully retracted position? I will probably have the quill lower onto my tools but my drawbar can operate at any quill position as it travels with it.

Hood

[DennisCNC]

The quill must be up all the way on this machine.   It's made kind of like  a J head Bridgeport but bigger.