Hardinge files for Chapter 11

[Brian]

We are hiring an apprentice machinist currently (job was just posted), we found the same problem that no one has any manual machining experience. The person that gets hired will be formally trained in manual machining before moving on to CNC machining. We want to build foundational skills that will hopefully create a well rounded tradesperson. 

Boy, I can't imagine not being able to run a manual mill or lathe, but then again I didn't start using machine tools to make parts for others-it was to make stuff and solve problems for myself.

Is it just me, or does it seem like the world today almost forces folks to specialize? Or maybe I'm finally old enough to remember when things were a little different than they are today?

[Brian]

My mentor and friend Peter had an HLVH, and I got to use it every so often as my engine lathe didn't have a taper attachment, and I'd single point pipe threads on the Hardinge. That quick retract on the compound made it easy, and fun!

Such a beautiful machine. He got it with inch + metric threading, and put a DRO on it with 0.00005" scales, and even paid extra to have them paint it green instead of grey so it would match a couple of Mori CNC's he had!

[gcode]

Back in the day (1980 to be precise)
I worked for a guy in who wanted a Bridgeport mill
Just a regular Bridgeport.. no long table or Z axis riser, just a plain jane Bridgeport
with a Sony DRO. The quote came to $7K with a 6 month minimum lead time.
At the time you could buy a Taiwanese Supermax Bridgeport clone for $2200 /$3K with a DRO for immediate delivery.
He wanted to buy American so he made a deposit and waited and waited and waited.
10 months later the machine was delivered.
The variable speed spindle sounded like it had 100k miles on it and the DRO was falling off the machine.
He called the dealer who told him to return the machine and they'd look at it.
We were just north on San Deigo so loading this up and hauling it to LA was no small thing.
He fought with the dealer for a couple of weeks and they refused to send out a technician.
My boss finally agreed to bring it back to LA. He loaded it on a truck, drove to LA and pushed it off the back of the truck, leaving it wrecked in the parking lot.
He stop at SuperMax and picked up a Bridgeport clone on the way back.
Just one more story about why the US machine building industry is a shell of it's former self
I thought Bridgeport was dead and gone, but Wikipedia says different

1968 March 1, Bridgeport Machines Inc. sold to Textron Inc.
2004 Acquired by Hardinge, Inc.
2023 Acquired by InCompass

I think the last time I saw a new Bridgeport they were being machined in Spain from Chinese castings

[gcode]

and to my surprise, it found this
Bridgeport

I suspect most of the actual machine building happens at the plant in Tiawan.

[Newbeeee™]

Spain....not surprising but i think that would be late 90s 2000 ish?
Remember the long bed "Bridgeport Portals" big push in UK aerospace to adopt them but the spindles seized for a past time.
The machines were badged - made in Spain by Correa (i think).
They had deals with Romi too, rebadging.

I'm sure newer manual mills  were bought complete from Taiwan.
No bad thing as Taiwan make some excellent machines.

I must read this....
https://www.lathes.co.uk/bridgeport/page10.html

[mkd]

No bad thing as Taiwan make some excellent machines.

If they are anything like their bicycles, i'd have to agree

[gcode]

Spain....not surprising but i think that would be late 90s 2000 ish?

Bridgeport was making  selling small CNC VCM's for a while.
I think they were Spanish built, painted with a Bridgeport color scheme and a Bridgeport decal stuck on
to make then authentic.

I remember some Bridgeport knee mills retrofitted to CNC  as well.

My first CNC was a Supermax knee mill with an Anilam control
We got about 10 years service out of it.

[Incogneeto]

https://www.apprenticeshipstandards.org/occupation_standards/c402cff2-f72b-4db1-a22b-e73b14c8dee2

[Tim Johnson]

We are hiring an apprentice machinist currently (job was just posted), we found the same problem that no one has any manual machining experience. The person that gets hired will be formally trained in manual machining before moving on to CNC machining. We want to build foundational skills that will hopefully create a well rounded tradesperson. 

That's also the way I was taught. When I was hired here in 1981 I started out in the saw room and as I learned that I moved up to the drill press and went through the machines until I got to the cnc machines. In 1988 I became a CNC programmer. We have an apprenticeship system nowadays and they get their learning in college.

[Newbeeee™]

Bridgeport was making  selling small CNC VCM's for a while.
I think they were Spanish built, painted with a Bridgeport color scheme and a Bridgeport decal stuck on
to make then authentic.

I remember some Bridgeport knee mills retrofitted to CNC  as well.

My first CNC was a Supermax knee mill with an Anilam control
We got about 10 years service out of it.

The "teach" lathes were Romi machines.
Mills....if i did know i can't remember

[Incogneeto]

That's also the way I was taught. When I was hired here in 1981 I started out in the saw room and as I learned that I moved up to the drill press and went through the machines until I got to the cnc machines. In 1988 I became a CNC programmer. We have an apprenticeship system nowadays and they get their learning in college.

LOL!! Like James I started At Cal Poly.

Transferred to LAVC Van Nuys 2 Blocks from the House and a Stellar Manufacturing Program . ( Bill LaVoie Professor)

[Brian]

I think the last time I saw a new Bridgeport they were being machined in Spain from Chinese castings

Boy, I hate to hear these stories! I bought a used (nice condition) Bridgeport Series 1 with a 2J head, power feed on X, chrome ways and a DRO at auction in '84 for $4200. It's been a good machine, though I don't use it that much these days (but couldn't imagine doing without it, either).

An old neighbor told me about the long lead time for these, but I thought this might have been in the late 70's (?). He said folks would get one on order and then flip them when they arrived to folks who couldn't wait-does that sound right?

[gcode]

but I thought this might have been in the late 70's (?). He said folks would get one on order and then flip them when they arrived to folks who couldn't wait-does that sound right?

this happened in the summer on 1980.
I thought he was nuts to do that to a brand new mill

[riverhunter]

My first CNC was a Supermax knee mill with an Anilam control

Haven't thought about that control in a long time.  spent 6 months programming one by hand.  Those little red light were burned into my memory.

[Incogneeto]

Back in the day a series 1 was a fair mill. / drill press.

Series 2 Imma gonna eat some meat.

after the change it was hard to tell the Diff.

If you wanted to throw Chips it was a Tree Mill. Then a series 2. Cincy was a Great competitor for chunks.