Tramming the Head on a Bridgeport Mill

Tramming the head of a Bridgeport Mill left to right as well as tramming the "nod" of the head which often gives problems if you aren't aware of a different technique for getting the head square to the table. I hope that this video will help you to save time and have an accurate setup.

[@glmf]

Excellent video! Subscribed!

[@bx2200]

Very clear explanation and corresponding camera work. This was very helpful - thanks!

[@GrubsAreTough]

I just started my senior year of highschool, and we will be doing this tomorrow in my machine class. This helped tremendously and will allow me to be prepared for the class and be able to do this easily. Very thoroughly explained and shown in the video. Thanks a lot for posting!

[@diegorocha6733]

What high school did you attend that has machine classes?

[@jonthorstensen123]

Hey Jim. Great video mate! Was looking everywhere for a vid describing the nodding process...well explained too! thank you.

[@greg2337]

well explained, thank you.

[@andrewwilson8317]

Thanks for great video. I have an Elliott Milmor,bit bigger than a Bridgeport,and it has some precision fitted dowel pins that only fit when mill is exactly true. They also fit at the main angles,15,30,45 etc. I clocked it for accuracy and it is spot on,less than two tenths. Do wonder why other makers don't do this? Makes life so much easier. I have fitted my machine vices and index head with similar dowel pins to make set ups quicker and easier to do.

[@jeremyhoang7279]

What will happen if the mill head is NOT trammed?

[@stevencooley7193]

I really miss doing this kind of work

[@hddm3]

wow great. thanks

[@petemclinc]

When Jim is tramming the "nod" by raising the table & rotating the head, he is still basically splitting the difference every time he raises the table and rotates the head.

[@jasonpfeilsticker5692]

but without having to do the math to account for the eccentric pivot relative to the quill end. It is a sure fire algorithm to get the job done.

[@holmes230536]

Jim very well explained video, I have a question if you were to lock the knee while DTI is on outer 123 would you get any deviation (movement) of the needle while locking, just curious, Edmund

[@stevencooley7193]

ever try a 2 dial indicator?

[@steventoigo393]

You should tram from the quill to the table. There are to many variables with rods, blocks,chucks. Very good job on making video.

[@bloodyripperau]

No need for indicators when tramming a Bridgeport, all you need is a 12" square. Wind your table up under the nose of the spindle and on the front of the quill there is two machined surfaces, one at the top of the quill height adjustment screw and at the bottom of the adjustment screw. Its like a little step. It allows you to tram both tilt and the nod. With a square off the table.