On Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 9:44:40 PM UTC-5, jon_banquer wrote:
On Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 4:11:50 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I bought my Bridgeport mill new in 1981. Today I just finished power
tapping a bunch of 5/16-18 through holes in .5 thick 7075 aluminum.
With the mill in low range at 250 RPM. I just put the tap in the drill
chuck, turn the spindle on forward till the tap is through and then
plug reverse the motor and back the tap out. I can't even begin to
count how many holes I have tapped this way on this machine. I have
never overheated the motor or switch gear and they are still original.
The motor has the "tropical insulation" in it so I guess that means it
can stand hot humid running. I don't know if a new Bridgeport today
would hold up as well, I hope they would. I do know of more than one
import mill that has cooked a motor and/or the switch gear.
Eric

I'm always amazed when people rave over a Bridgeport. It means they have no idea what modern CNC machine tools are capable of and they are completely out of touch with the reality of how machining is done today.

Some of us, well actually mechanics, are hands on in over under types.
We have machinists just make us parts.