I was clicking around on the Bridgeport web site and on
the page for manual mills, I noticed a pic of a mill with a
"splashback" and was wondering if anybody here has
made one of their own?

http://www.bpt.com/index.asp?pageID=943&prodID=56

(the splashback is the white panel attached to the column
behind the table)

Seems like this would come in handy for keeping chips
and coolant from flying all over the place when using an
air nozzle to clean off the part/vise/table (and would cut
down on the amount of time spent cleaning the mill) and
as I have access to aluminum strut and plexiglas where I
work, I was thinking about how to put one together and
how to mount it. Any ideas?

I've seen a molded plastic combination chip pan/backsplash for the BP
on ebay once, but did not get it because the shipping cost was a
killer.

Hari Seldon wrote:
I was clicking around on the Bridgeport web site and on
the page for manual mills, I noticed a pic of a mill with a
"splashback" and was wondering if anybody here has
made one of their own?

http://www.bpt.com/index.asp?pageID=943&prodID=56

(the splashback is the white panel attached to the column
behind the table)

Seems like this would come in handy for keeping chips
and coolant from flying all over the place when using an
air nozzle to clean off the part/vise/table (and would cut
down on the amount of time spent cleaning the mill) and
as I have access to aluminum strut and plexiglas where I
work, I was thinking about how to put one together and
how to mount it. Any ideas?

I made a splashback recently, using galvanised sheet steel with the
half-inch edges folded 90 degrees to strengthen it. The exposed edges
are protected by U-section edging used in vehicles (I think - not sure
where it came from, but I'm glad I saved it when it was given to me -
its been in the shop for years waiting for a use!) My machine is a
Taiwanese copy of a Bridgeport, but I guess the column casting is the
same: the sides of the column near the knee dovetails are straight for
almost the entire height of the column, making the job easier (I
drilled and tapped the sides to bolt each splashback onto).
I also folded a tapered three-sided splash tray from the same material,
the ends of which are riveted to each side of the splashback. This
tapered (bottomless) splash tray sits in a two inch deep rectangular
stainless steel chip tray that I had made for me. The stainless tray
lies on the base casting under the 'elevating screw housing' (knee
jack.) I supported the knee on a steel beam whilst I fitted the tray.
The tray has a drain welded in the bottom at one side that leads into
a polythene coolant sump which sits on the floor alongside the cast
base of the milling machine. This new sump is an easily-cleaned
polythene plant trough from the garden centre; fortunately they have
them in black as well as terracotta colour so my black one doesn't look
too like a flower trough, and I've fitted a sheet metal cover. The
pump that was inside the column now stands in the new sump beside the
machine's base, supported by a bracket from the holding-down bolt hole.

My reason for abandoning the coolant sump inside the base of the column
is this: it is very awkward to mop out the last of the coolant and then
clean out with cleaning liquid when I renew the coolant; ideally you
would need to be a long armed contortionist. I don't fancy these
antics when I'm older - they are difficult enough now. A secondary
benefit is that I don't need so much coolant to keep the pump suction
submerged. Since I'm not into mass production, I don't expect the
smaller volume and less contact with metal to result in warm coolant,
but if it does I can make up a larger sump.
regards,
Ian

Pictures?.....Please. ;)

TMT