Good Day, Mr P. Go to the bottom of my The Grap-vine post, Its on page 2 right now, Click on the link to EMI web site, these are the people who will help you. When you get there I'm sure you will want to save them in your favorites. I can not say enough good things about how helpfull they were for me. The Ex-pat

Hello, dleade 1 Check out the bottom of my grapevine post, And let me know if you need anything after the responses here. Thanks The Expat

Hello Anybody who is looking for service and support on ANY Bridgeport CNC, should check out EMI. They picked up and transplanted some of the guys from Bridgeport, and picked up the entire remaining inventory for spare parts. Being so far away from home, I did an OMG, when I found out about Bridgeport closing. but these guys are friendly, answer technical questions, and even work through e-mail, something Bridgeport should have been doing all along. Also I was fortunate enough to get ALL the Manual’s for Bridgeport’s TC1, TC2, TC3. I have the factory Parts, Programmer’s, Operators, Maintenance, DX-32, books. If anybody every needs some info, e-mail me, and I will be happy to share what I have with you. http://www.emi-inc.net/bridgeport/index.html Thanks The Expat

Hello Shaiju I have not seen this one to often, but if you search the post's for importing JPEG'S, there are a ton of them. Why not try saving it in that format and follow the post's. The Ex-pat

To: TexasMillHand I know to well, that companies have to do their part to stay competitive. I finally went from the bottom of the food chain (maintenance) to the top (COO) running other peoples small companies (800 employees). Then I wanted to do my own, started with 12 grew to 80 employees. I learned things, they cannot teach you in school--40% of my customer base were fortune 1000 companies NOT PAYING THEIR BILLS ON TIME, and still calling to place orders for their out of USA production lines. More than once I found myself calling some CFO transplant from another country ( after accounting tried for 3 months) and telling him (I’m not producing for you till you pay and I am going to cut your molds in half after my lawyers get the judgment). You get to hang up the phone and reach in YOUR POCKET, to make the $ 36,500 payroll that week. All because Payroll, Suppliers, Rent and Utilities will not let you pay 60, 90, or in some cases 180 on $250,000. The small guys are smaller volume, but it was more personnel, and they were better payers--In the same boat I figure!! So then I said the *** with it, and relocated outside the USA to avoid supporting drug addicts having large families without the responsibilities. Now I get the benefit of a tax exemption to the tune of the 1st 80g and I still work for a USA Fortune 500 company, get to come home monthly, And the best part is I enjoy what I do best, taking it from my imagination to reality in a high volume manufacturing environment, where a exceptional salary is about $1000 US dollars a month. That’s 1/2 my weekly pay (NO TAXES 1st 80g). I live VERY WELL. Better now than I ever did at any time in the U.S. Because the company does what it has to, to survive in these times ( in a American Free Trade Zone). MADE IN JAPAN so what??? IT could have & should have said MADE IN THE USA, but that ball was started right after WWII long before me. And before you wave the Flag at me, I’m 8 years, US Navy, Nuclear Propulsion Submarine, till I picked up too many rad’s to go out to sea, shore command wasn’t for me, so I opted out. Now I save as much as I can, so I can come back permanently to retire while I am still alive. I don’t care were its made or comes from, but certain things should not change (I remember when Rockwell bought ALLEN/B industrial controls to keep Siemans Automation from purchasing them, but only after our Government promised certain contracts if they did so). Anyway—I’m still sad that an ICON is going, and good men with families, who believed in something and loved it as well, who were proud when asked, what they did, will find life completely different after this. Thanks The Ex-pat

I was talking to my authorized Bridgeport parts dealer today, and when I asked about how the company was doing " they closed the production doors in CT, last week, Harig grinders will continue on its own, and they are shopping the name to a couple of buyers" If this is true, I'm saddened that a true icon is gone, just like the Camaro, is going, and OH GOD, a front wheel drive Monte Carlo, wasn't bad enough. Now I know I’m getting old, time was I wouldn't give a **** about such things. Thanks The Ex-pat

If you have access to an EDM, form a Allen Hex, carbon, and sink it in. use a allen wrench and and try to back it out. This works really good if it a through hole. The Expat

To all who took the time to reply. Thank You!!!! As to why? To answer that question, the shop was set up and tooled for 10 fully manned conventional Bridgeport’s, and 1 VERY old Hurco retrofit CNC, with a R8 spindle. I do use a collet system, on the new CNC. But since the nearest MSC is 1500 miles away, and NY engineering has to purchase what I need, get it, next day it to me, clear customs, if I order on Wednesday, I will get it here Tuesday the following week, when they wanted it the Monday of the week I ordered it! Am I still alive? Hell yes and Cervesa is still cheaper than bottled water! Although that rainstorm named Lily drove us inside for a few days. Again I thank everybody for helping out. Nothing worse, the tool you need to use in you hand and knowing, nope- go back and figure another way out. Thanks The Expat

To the Moderator, if it’s not appropriate, delete this post. I will understand, no hard feelings. I figured I better ask this question, before it's banned from the board. And since I have asked and received Soooo Little in the way of other sites, I could lean on for help, I value the time of the members who took the time to post in the past. I have been looking for a BT-40 to R8 collet adapter. Some times when I am setting the tools for a job, I wish I could use tooling that fits my R8 collets in the CNC. And since I usually can’t wait 3 days for the item to get here, I have to go back and figure another tool for the job, just when I thought I was ready to hit the start button on. I spent time looking for one, but when it come to BT-40, none are available. Any help with this would be appreciated Thanks The Expat

Life is a funny road, you can drive it how ever you choose, whether it be a new Acura, or an old Chevy truck, you will reach your destination. It is not what tools we have, but rather how we use them. Back in 1995, I had the Displeasure of being sent off for a 2 week course, to learn SDRC I-Deas, only to come back and find my work-station replaced by a S/G Indigo, Unix platform. Small company, Owners freshly graduated son now calling the shots, I was informed we were moving out of the Dark Ages. The next year was absolutely miserable, hardware crashes, software issues, learning Unix. I had seen MasterCam working at a friends shop and got to try it out, Called the sales rep and arranged for an in house demo. I remember the look on his face when I told him "If you don't want to get it, that's fine, put an add in the paper, you got my 2 weeks." He did put an add in the paper and 2 weeks later told me he would cut the P.O. for MasterCam if I stayed. Shortest distance in-between here and there is a straight line Tim Hollis

This Forum is truly outstanding, I solved a lot of my issue's just by going through the old posts. I am isolated on this tropical island, with only 2 other people to discuss CNC/CAD CAM with. My parent company is in NY, and I am currently working for them long term in the American Free Trade Zone, Dominican Republic. I currently use the newest CNC, on the Island, a 1998 B/port TC1. Back home on Long Island, I had a group of us that got together about 1 a month. Here, I have only been able to find 2 other guys who actually know what their doing. I have been working with some guy's at the Technical college in Las Americas, and got a proposal and funding finalized for a course, but since the El Jefe, received the funds, things came to a grind, I’m waiting to see how that plays out. After I registered, I spent my 1st few days reading through ALL the old post's. I just don't get it, why some of the other companies out there aren't following the example by MasterCam. I mean Bridgeport, Cincinnati, SolidWorks? Not everything you need is always found in the manual or on some automated tech help line. I put some post’s out and was really surprised at the great responses I received back. Thank you to CNC Software Inc. for a great forum, the best yet. The Ex- Pat Tim Hollis

If you read the above, maybe someone can help with this. Anybody know of a good source for servo amplifiers, I have 3 standard Yaskowa on my CNC. But with the way the power goes on and off around here, its just a matter of time before I need a replacement, I would like to put one on the shelf now while everything still works. Thanks The Ex-Pat Tim Hollis

Thanks for the welcome. And you’re absolutely right about learning from this forum. After I registered, I spent my 1st few days reading through ALL the old post's. I just don't get it, why some of the other companies out there aren't following the example by MasterCam. I mean Bridgeport, Cincinnati, SolidWorks? Not everything you need is always found in the manual or on some automated tech help line. That’s why I was hoping for some suggestions on other groups. Also Thanks Very Much, to all you guy's way up North there, when I read the post's, they were from all over the place. But so far, only you guy's seem to take the time. Thanks The Ex-pat Tim Hollis

I'm starving if thats the case! Besides why eat, when Cervesa is cheaper than the bottled water here? And with the 2 replies coming from the same area, both mentioning Hunger and Food, is that some kind of conspiracy? or maybe it’s just close to lunch time. Thanks The Ex-pat Tim Hollis [ 09-04-2002, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

My Thanks for the replies I have received so far. I have looked through tons of searches and sites, without much luck. My parent company is in NY, and I am currently working for them long term in the American Free Trade Zone, Dominican Republic. I currently use the newest CNC, on the Island, a 1998 B/port TC1. Back home on Long Island, I had a group of us that got together about 1 a month. Here, I have only been able to find 2 other guys who actually know what their doing. Most times, as soon as they get a look at the setup here I get asked the same question " Can I get a job here, I would like to learn what your doing" . I have been working with some guy's at the Technical college in Las Americas, and got a proposal and funding finalized for a course, but since the El Jefe, received the funds, things came to a grind, I’m waiting to see how that plays out. Anyway Thanks in advance to anyone who replies, it is greatly appreciated. Thanks Ex-pat Tim Hollis

Hello This Forum is truly outstanding, I solved a lot of my issue's just by going through the old posts. My problem is I am isolated on this tropical island, with only 2 other people to discuss CNC/CAD CAM with. Can anybody suggest other Forums or User groups that might be worth checking out? Of interest are SolidWorks 2001, MasterCam all Versions, EDM, CNC - VMC. Many Thanks The Ex-Pat Tim Hollis

I just recived a 1998 B/P TQ 1, with DX-32 controller, when I post the the file, I always have to edit and add, G0 Z1., For the 1st operation, I just got the machine, tool holders and tools to replace an IRKO series I retrofit mill, here in the Dominican Republic, and I need to prove out the new CNC before I ask the parent company in NY, for more goodies like a new release of MCAM. I read through the old post's and I will call my reseller tommorow, in the meantime any help would be appreciated [email protected]