Power feed

[Carpenter84]

Those with BP's and clones, and with power feeds on the Y axis - does the Y axis power feed differ in design and installation from the X? Or are they interchangable? I really need to get a power feed on the Y axis.

[PJB]

What mill do you have? 
The Servo website may have an explanation of the differences if any.   Mine only has X sorry. 

[Carpenter84]

Bridgeport clone.

[chips and more]

Not sure what you mean when you say differ? I have a BP with original X&Y power feeds. Are they interchangeable…NO. Do they both operate the same…YES. The Y feed has a limit switch contraption that should be attached. But it would need holes drilled into the BP base for attachment, so I didn’t do it. Only problem, I must keep an eye on it or it will crash at an end of feed. Both feed screws are not the same as standard feed screws with just handles and no power feed.

[Carpenter84]

I have a chinese Align power feed on the X.
My question is whether the X would fit properly on the Y, or if the X & Y are totally different that I'd need to buy a Y axis feed (which seem to be fewer available of) or if an X axis model would fit.

[GNAP]

The kits are different, the drive units, pretty much the same, mounting hardware and drive gears are different.

[Carpenter84]

Thank you

[woodchucker]

The kits are different, the drive units, pretty much the same, mounting hardware and drive gears are different.

why would the drive gears be different. Are the dials different on the Y vs the X.
I don't have a BP or clone, so I am curious.

[4GSR]

The kits are different, the drive units, pretty much the same, mounting hardware and drive gears are different.

why would the drive gears be different. Are the dials different on the Y vs the X.
I don't have a BP or clone, so I am curious.

They are the same.  X axis is .200" per revolution, Y-axis is .200" per revolution.  The knee, Z axis is .100" per rev.  The mountings are slightly different from each other as well as the shaft diameters are slightly different, I believe.  Could be wrong though.  Haven't at the "guts" of a bridgeport in a while, and I have clone sitting in my garage, too!

[Carpenter84]

I was mainly curious if an X axis could be modified enough to fit the Y, as they're cheaper and wayy more available. For some reason the Y is a bit more rare and more expensive.

I could buy a chinese X tomorrow for $214 free shipping for a 150 in/lbs. But the Y's are $300+ for the same 150 in/lbs.

I've just been getting tired of hand cranking the Y but having the luxury of the X power feed. Makes no sense that I don't have a Y power feed when I peel material off in the Y direction just as often as I do in the X... In fact, I have another aluminum frame to make for that jewelery maker, which involved squaring off a big chunk of aluminum like in that video I posted of the flying aluminum strings.

I'll need to just bite the bullet and order a Y feed. The curiousity has passed to the necessity phase. I'm perfectly fine modifying something to work where it's not intended when it's for hobby, but now that I'm getting jobs that have a short turn around, I can't be spending a few days tinkering with a setup. Just gotta get the tools, get the product produced and out the door. Times have changed!
But the challenges often make good discussion - so I post them. I'm single handedly responsible for mudding the crap out of this forum. Lol.

[4GSR]

I bet you you could modify the X-axis one to work on the Y-axis easily IMO.  Ken

[Carpenter84]

Since I moved the mill finally, maybe I'll investigate whether it'll fit before I put it back on. Also, I'll need to open mine up to see if I snapped a gear or shaft, or just sheared a key...

[woodchucker]

I'm betting the plastic gear if it's the chineese [size=78%]. They are the week point, and easily ordered too.[/size]

that's funny, I didn't hit anything other than a return, then delete... and I get the size inserted. frustrating.