LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Hi all, I'm looking for a new gib for the knee/saddle slide for my Bridgeport series 1. Does anyone know of a UK based parts supplier? Thanks, Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 What's a 'Gib' Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'm hoping it's the correct name for the bit that takes the play out between the slide and the saddle. On the bridgeport it's tapered, and adjusted using a screw that drives it in against the taper. Here's a picture of the saddle/crosslide 'gib', I couldn't find an image of the other one quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Gib strips are in the slides there used to removd wear/play in the slides as the machines age. Sadly once you need a new gib in a slide all you can do is make a new one yourself or get a new machine. You can gain a bit by nipping the locks up but it'll introduce tight spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 There's a discussion on what VB has said here http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/bridgeport-hardinge-mills-lathes/gib-fitting-question-bridgeport-151249/ although you may have already seen that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Thanks for the link. I had been thinking about shimming it out, I don't have any shim steel though, so was looking at the relative costs of a new gib Vs shim steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 The XYZ mill might use the same gib strip...if you're lucky...might be worth having a chat with them. What we did on one machine to gain a bit of life, was to make a spacer to give it some more adjustment on the screw, and chopped a little off the other end. Nuneaton Rebuilds if they're still going, reground slideways on my 8' borer and made us a new gib to suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Thanks for the link. I had been thinking about shimming it out, I don't have any shim steel though, so was looking at the relative costs of a new gib Vs shim steel. We shimed the Gib in one of our big Harrison Lathes cross slides a few years ago... It got scrapped not long after. Steel shim will wear the cast iron slides faster than the cast iron gib, you might get a bit morelife from the machine but its really on borrowed time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Steel shim will wear the cast iron slides faster than the cast iron gib, you might get a bit morelife from the machine but its really on borrowed time. I'd put the shim between the gib and the saddle, so it wouldn't be in contact with any of the moving surfaces. I've had a fairly decent quote to re-grind and re-work the saddle and knee, but I need to get the machine up and running to find out what else is up with it first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I've learned a new word! What about making them out of Phosphor Bronze or even Brass - so they will wear preferentially? Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 If/when I'm in a position to make my own, I certainly think that'd be an option! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'd put the shim between the gib and the saddle, so it wouldn't be in contact with any of the moving surfaces. I've had a fairly decent quote to re-grind and re-work the saddle and knee, but I need to get the machine up and running to find out what else is up with it first! where do you think we put the shims? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 You didn't say, but based on the below, it sounded like you had shim in contact with the slides. If that were the case I don't know how you'd keep it there. Steel shim will wear the cast iron slides faster than the cast iron gib, you might get a bit morelife from the machine but its really on borrowed time. Are you referring to some other issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 The problem we came up with was the gib bending slightly, creating more problems than it solved. The shims we're placed between the gib and the carrage and were a pain to keep them in place while the gib was put back in place. My dad in the past has machined extentions on gibs but these arnt ideal repairs because the weld is harder than the cast iron so again accelerates wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02jcole Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 What about a ptfe based coating like Turcite or Moglice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 There's a good chance it has a turcite coating anyway. It's entirely possible to have it removed and replaced, thicker, to build it back up. Again, nuneaton rebuilds would be my first port of call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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