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The summer of 2009 brought an exciting development with the purchase of several new pieces of equipment that were funded from a grant from the Branta Foundation through the Picker Engineering Program. This page documents the challege of purchasing large machines and getting them down into the basment of a building with no loading docks or forklift access. Some talented rigging, and creative use of equipment we already owned got the job done. A sunny clear day also really helped!
Prep workWe removed a venerable 18 inch Leblond lathe to make room for the Prototrak 14" lathe and Bed Mill. We also installed Lista storage under the bench to faciltate tool storage for the machining area.
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Click the thumbnails for a full view image Shop before renovations
Removing lathe, and layout of new machines
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ArrivalThe machinery was delivered by the rigging company, and uncrated out on our patio. The Waterjet (Omax) machine was specially shipped in pieces, arriving in five crates. |
Delivery
Removing the table so the mill can fit in the elevator.
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Waterjet setupThe machine was uncrated, and brought down the elevator in pieces. We have two shop cranes, which turned out to be essential to getting the machine put together. |
Rigging and lifting XY axis onto tank
Final setup
Our first test parts, using packing foam!
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LatheThe lathe was too long to fit in the elevator, requiring a long trip down the street, into SabinReed basment, through a steam tunnel, and at last in our shop! |
Unloading and road travel
down the tunnel, and in
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Lathe, Mill setup and trainingThe Protrak engineer and technician had to reassemble our mill and lathe afterward. |
Reassemble
Training
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Waterjet trainingThree days of training with the Omax engineer were done right after installation. |
Training
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