Photo Index - Universal Boring Machine Co. - No. 2½ Universal Boring Machine

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Universal Boring Machine Co.
Hudson, MA

True Manufacturer:
Universal Boring Machine Co., Hudson, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Horizontal Boring Machine
Machine Size:	Hefty
Submitted By:	Jeff Joslin

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	No. 2½ Universal Boring Machine
Date of Manufacturer:	1911 (approx.)
Serial Number:
Last Updated	6/21/2023 6:14:38 PM

Comments:

These photos are courtesy of this machine's owner, Rees Acheson. In his own words...

"I have owned the machine since 1979 and it has been in use since then. I have spent about 1500 hours scraping, making parts, and other fixing and maintenance, but is was quite beat-up when I got it. Still, it can do reasonably accurate work. It is no longer flat-belt, and it has a 4 axis DRO.

"I used it nearly every day from when I purchased it until about 1989 when I closed the shop for outside business. The boring mill was used primarily for boring out borewelded holes in heavy equipment parts (earth movers and paving, and steam locomotive parts.) In fact it was the BoreWelder and boring mill that got used the most. I may be able to find some (paper) photos of unusual jobs done on the machine, but that may be a long shot.

"In 1989 I started a manufacturing company and used the shop for prototype work. During this later time the boring mill was used much less, but it has still been used for the occasional heavy equipment repair as well as in the prototype work.

"1911, 2.5", Bronze sleeve bearing for the spindle. Converted to electric Vee-Belt drive at some point. No clutch. #4 Morse taper.

"9 feeds: 3/4 to 5 1/5 inches per minute.
"8 speeds - 4 speeds with high and low - plus a backgear. (16 speeds in all) 15 to 200 rpm)

"Head has vertical rapid travel and feed capabilities. Table and saddle had no rapid travel capabilities.

"Purchased 1979 (1980?) in Bridgeport, CT. (Might be able to find who from)

"Following is a list of what has been done to the machine since I have owned it - Most of it right away to make the machine usable:

"Made 26 gears for it, mostly in the feed geartrain (16 DP) - two larger ones, I think in the drivetrain.

"Rebored spindle hole in head for sleeve bearing - was slightly out of round. Ground spindle round and made new sleeve bearings to fit (I recall now a bit smaller than 3.375" dia).

"Hole in spindle for 2.5" bar was worn tapered (belled) by about 0.030". Rebored hole to clean (hole about 21" long.) Hard Chrome plated full length of spindle and ground to .032" oversize. Honed bore to fit spindle. Added bar wipers at each end of spindle.

"Planed head's ways and scraped. Shimmed column square (was leaning toward table about 0.004" per ft) Spindle had been pointing down by about 0.012" per ft.

"The male saddle ways have have sustained a great deal of damage and so have many deep dings. I have scraped the ways flat two times over the past 40 years. Key to their survival has been a diligence paid to wiping them down before movement and brushing on heavy oil as needed. Further, when signs of trouble are first noticed, a pass with a broad hand-scraper has been made to re-surface the problem areas. This takes off a minimal amount (about 0.00005", I think)

"Added a rapid traverse to the table and saddle. These by way of a 1/2 HP motor that revolves the feed shaft, along with a sliding gear to engage/disengage the saddle feed leadscrew.

"Added two two-axis Mititoyo 0.001 resolution Digital Readouts. (Table X, Head Y, Saddle Z, Bar Z)."

Photo 1: