Got some advice for a “3 way” ……….(from my wife…;)…..(she thinks it’s better in the front, not the rear?)

[Runs With Scissors]

Woodruff keys are an alignment tool. They are supposed to be softer than the parts they are aligning.

Mine are OK then…..

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I put feeds on all three axis on my mill. Probably can count the number of times I have used the Y axis feed on one hand. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad to have it when I need it. But you won’t be sorry if you install one on the Z. Cranking that handle gets old quickly.

Yea, it’s one of those, “buy it as you go” projects, so I am reasonably sure that The Z-Axis power feed is not in the too far off distant future…..

I just ordered the DRO for this month……..

 

[Yooper]

If my mill dro dies I will have a new one on order that same day! Can’t imagine using the mill without one!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

If my mill dro dies I will have a new one on order that same day! Can’t imagine using the mill without one!

Yep, I couldn’t agree more…... especially for a beginner like myself, they are invaluable.

The 2 that I have on my lathe and “Chi-Com mill” were ordered from “Ali Express” , but this one is from the "Big A" this time.

I am waiting on parts from H&W Machine repair so I can get things ‘back together’ so I can finish it up.

It always makes me “nervous” when I have lots of small parts scattered around the shop…..Just too easy to either “misplace” or “forget” something…...

 

[Joisey]

I wish you luck with the aftermarket table and knee drive units. I have yet to see one last half as long as a genuine Bridgeport unit. I bought and rebuilt my Bridgeport about 10 years ago. The table feed worked intermittently, which was traced to some bad wiring. I rebuilt the variable speed unit, all bearings in the head, new table and cross feed screws and nuts and a bit to the table feed. Bridgeport makes an excellent milling machine, and the mill makes the worlds best drill press. Are you running a rotary phase converter, or do you have 3 phase where you live?

I took a 10 inch handwheel and milled slots in the face to match the crank handle that you use to raise the knee. Twice as fast as an electric knee drive and isn't in the way. Easy to do with a 3/16 end mill and a rotary table with a chuck.