Platform for HMC

[g huns]

Is there a supplier out there that sells generic expanded metal platforms that are suitable for hefty HMC operators to jumping jacks on?

Our current HMC, an Okuma, has a platform by the door and operator panel and we have a sketchy homemade one in front of the pallet changer. We bought 2 new Enshus which have no built in platform by the door and an even greater height from the floor to the pallet changer. I'd like something with casters and brakes. And anything store bought will look a lot nicer than what we cobble up. 

[Tim Johnson]

Our fab shop did ours. You should have a few in your area. You're in trailer/rv country aren't you?

[g huns]

Just now, Tim Johnson said:

Our fab shop did ours. You should have a few in your area. You're in trailer/rv country aren't you?

Only in the worldwide capital of it.

Grainger has a few but they look like it'd take a forklift to move them. No wheels.

[Tim Johnson]

Yeah, there's some real weight for our 800mm pallet platform. I know of one company that built a wood platform around a 800mm Mazak horizontal. I liked that platform better than our tread plate. It felt like it would be easier on the feet and knees.

[g huns]

35 minutes ago, Tim Johnson said:

...I know of one company that built a wood platform around a 800mm Mazak horizontal. I liked that platform better than our tread plate. It felt like it would be easier on the feet and knees.

If we did that our guys would put a couple chairs and grill on it and get even less work done.

[Mr. M]

The ones I have experience with are all made custom. Having something ready made would be sweet, but it would be tough to have a "one size fits most" solution for it. 

A heavy duty version of this would be great for moving it. I am not a fan of lock casters as it seems that when you need it, they never stay locked.

http://www.rockler.com/workbench-caster-kit-4-pack?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&sid=V9146&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIufGxorXD1wIVXp7ACh3axAixEAQYBCABEgLAyPD_BwE

Another option to make the Grainger ones mobile is to put 4 trailer jacks with wheels on the corners. Then you can just set it down in place. We did that with a large band saw and a Bridgeport at a shop where they got used frequently but once a week or so, they had to get moved out of the way for some large equipment to get brought into/out of the shop.

[Guest]

19 hours ago, g huns said:

If we did that our guys would put a couple chairs and grill on it and get even less work done.

You say that like it's a bad thing 

[g huns]

17 minutes ago, JParis said:

You say that like it's a bad thing 

It's not, if they invite me.

[mkd]

A couple of pallets are pretty portable, and they're stackable.

[g huns]

4 minutes ago, mkd said:

A couple of pallets are pretty portable, and they're stackable.

You missed the part about being rated for 300 pound operators doing jumping jacks.

Our guy is closer to 280, but he breaks everything he sits or stands on.

[mkd]

Gcode's shop has some 5 foot tall platforms around their high end okumas. The floor metal is some kind of flared-hole pattern. Much less aggressive than what Haas uses on their steps (hard on my knees, cause your feet stick), but more aggressive than diamond plate.

[g huns]

Enshu sent me this...

Nice, but probably overkill.

[mkd]

10 minutes ago, g huns said:

Enshu sent me this...

Nice, but probably overkill.

So shipping pallets IT IS!!!!!!

[g huns]

9 minutes ago, mkd said:

So shipping pallets IT IS!!!!!!

Hey, didn't think of that. We have a mountain of them in "cold storage"(outside), just waitin on scrap prices to go up.

[Guest]

[g huns]

2 minutes ago, JParis said:

My daughter is experiencing her first Christmas this year a broke-arsed military wife.

She asked if she could borrow my sawsall and cordless drill, and have some old skids I had out in the barn. I said sure.

She broke the skids down, assembled and painted up a bunch of Christmas decorations. Trees, snowmen, etc...

Being a supportive father I said, awe, that snowman is cute. She said, glad you like it cause one of them is yours.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, g huns said:

She said, glad you like it cause one of them is yours.

[specv]

We make our own, from 1 inch tube, here is one we made for our new Kitamura's with deburring, loading/unloading and computer bench's integrated.

 

[g huns]

On 11/16/2017 at 12:39 PM, mkd said:

So shipping pallets IT IS!!!!!!

They are giving us this...

When it's finished up pretty, looks like this...

Not really what we had in mind. But it's free. And we have a torch and a welder so...

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

80/20 rail could be a decent option.  It would also allow reconfiguration in the future.

[RACINGCONVERTERS]

I had some made by the 80/20 guys.  It is expensive but they could support several thousand pounds of parts and people and can be fully customized to fit your need