The
Bridgeport milling machine was developed in
Bridgeport, Connecticut in the late 1930s.
The machine had a uniquely designed turret
and swiveling ram and became known as the turreted
knee mill. The bridgeport milling machine quickly
became a standard in machine shops all across
the country.
A milling machine is one of the most versatile
machines in the shop. Milling equipment can shave
and shape flat and irregularly shaped pieces.These
machines can also be used to cut gears, slots,
threads and bore holes. The Bridgeport machines
continue to be an industry standard as they have
been updated a number of times over the years.
The milling table is an important component
of the milling machine. The table holds the work
piece and is used to move the work piece into
the cutting tool. There are a variety of clamps
and accessories available for the milling table
to make holding work pieces of various shapes
and sizes in exactly the right position much
easier.
Milling
Equipment Maker Falls On Hard Times
In
2002, the Bridgeport company ran into financial
difficulties and was forced to close its doors.
The bridgeport milling machine was so popular
and important to small machine shops that the
investment firm which acquired the Bridgeport
assets quickly returned the standard turreted
knee mill back to production.
Hardinge, Inc., which is based in Elmira, New
York, returned the turreted knee mill back to
production. Brand identity was so strong that
the company retained the brand name and basic
machine design. Hardinge, long recognized as
a world-wide leader of cutting, milling and shaping
machines, is now marketing the knee mills world-wide.
For many, it is a welcome revival of the bridgeport
milling machine.
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