This past Saturday I had a small job to do that was just made for our Hurco milling machine. Ask any machinist to name a brand/type of milling machine and they’ll most likely reply “Bridgeport”. The original Bridgeport Universal Milling machine, named for the city in which it was produced, was patented in the late 1930’s and it’s versatility made it an instant success. Not totally suited for heavy work, but easily configured to turn out some amazingly intricate parts when necessary.
So back to our Hurco. A stand-out in her “Smurf Blue” paint, she’s a Bridgeport clone. As soon as Bridgeport’s patents ran out many copies were produced in this country and abroad. Some were pretty bad, others were improved over the original. Our Hurco is, well, adequate if we don’t ask too much of her.
In the photos you’ll see that the machine has a vise set up for holding work, but I had a valve gear part that needed some metal removed and using standard holding clamps that fit most any milling table the part was quickly secured and the job done without changing any tooling already in place for other work. One of the biggest features of this type of machine is the “head”, the part that holds the tooling. It can be swiveled side to side, run in and out, and be configured at any angle as well.
A lot of locomotive and other railroad work will tax the Hurco, but like so many older machines it’s capabilities are only limited by a prudent operator.
So what does a milling machine do asked Brian!! Basic milling machines essentially machine flat surfaces. They can also put slots into parts, with making keyways but one example. Cleaning up rough castings and giving them smooth accurate surfaces to mate with other parts is a common operation. Due to it's having a downward feeding quill, much like a drill press but with power feed control, the Hurco can also be used to accurately bore a hole to specific tolerances. The pillow block bearing holes for No.11's tumbler/reversing shaft were done in this manner.
