Rt Angle Milling Atchmt

[lynnl]

At times I've thought of getting a right angle atchmt for use on my Bridgeport. Could someone experienced w/the use of those give me their assessment? I've never seen one in use. It would seem that rigidity would be compromised. Also I've wondered about possible damage to the quill.

[hms50]

Hi!

I've had a right angle attachment for my Bridgeport for 3 or 4 years and have used it several times for sliting collets, cutting gears ect. I don't tend to push the machine or work it hard, as a hsm time just isn't that important. The unit has worked well for me and not given any trouble at all. I like it. It has a slight gear reduction, somthing like 30% and using a stub arbor with 1" diameter saws and gear cutters works great. An old timer, who had a Cincinnati #3 in his shop, told me that Bridgeports didn't have enough power to run large cutters so he didn't think the long arbor and arbor support worth while. I don't know about that from experiance, just telling you what I was told. Anybody else have ideas on this? The unit I picked up is marked Bridgeport. I've been told some of the imports are not so hot, but again have no experiance with them. My brother in law used to be a maintenance machinist at one of the large gun manufacturing companies. They used to use the right angle attachment for boring holes in large pieces clamped to the table, Somtimes other machine's tables. He didn't know of any quill damage from using them. By the way, as you probably know, they require a special length draw bar.

Good luck! they often come up on E bay in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar range.

[crypto]

Greetings,

I have had one for 25 years. Used it possibly 10 times or less during that period. Its one of those tools that are rarely used but when needed there is no adequate substitute. Hms50 is correct, buy a Bridgeport stay away from foreign made. I have made use of the arbor and outboard yoke. Hung a couple of stagger tooth cutters on it and plowed through a lengthy, multiple piece slitting job. Its a good, rugged tool.

[kap pullen]

Yep,
crypto's right,

I bought one of the r.a. heads a couple years ago. It's made to fit the small bridgeport heads you see on hardinge mills.
An adapter was easy to make.

I've used it three, maybe four times.
Keyways in a bore, center drilling a casting for the lathe, and edge holes.

You tram in the head (should already be tramed in), indicate the machined pads on the side to line it up.

The spindle has to be locked in position. There's a couple thou slop in the key.
If you move the spindle up or down you need to re-indicate.

You have to baby it, no hoggin, bridgeport spindle locks slip sometimes.

You need a longer drawbar because the spindle has to be a couple inches down to mount the head. With the short drawbar the wrench won't reach the nut.

If you get a deal on one go for it. Mine cost $150, like new, from a dealer going outa business. It sits on the shelf
a lot by itself.

One of those little Volstro heads would be really nice also.

Got your mailing, thanks, That was kinda a joke bout my back. My wife (to be) was interested though!!! She's a nice Southern girl too. Charlston S.C.

see ya

kapullen

[Dave Burnett]

I picked up a Bridgeport Quillmaster for $76.00 and it is one of those tools you probably would use about once every 5 yrs. But when you do need to use it,it comes in real handy.

[jrehm]

I have used them many times at work
and at home. Its a graet tool for
creative solutions. I have even used
one at home drilling 14" deep holes
in aluminum using the power feed.
Saved my but and payed for the machine
and the right angle attatchment.
Buy it, you wont need it every day but like
a rotory table its there when you need it.

[Thrud]

All I am going to say is that you never can have too many tools - and if you do, just make a bigger shop for them! Of course, your better half might argue that...

Dave