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Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 18:39
by Malc2098
Well, here goes. You all said you want to see something come out of my workshop now it's substantially complete.

I want to build a cart to take my mortice machine which weighs 47kg so the CoG will be a bit high on a small cart. I will try and make retractible casters to be able to move it from its stowed to working position.

I will also use the bottom of it to house my compressor, killing two birds with one stone by giving the compressor a home and providing low down weight.

I am also trying to recycle some really old well seasoned beech that has come out of an old dining table.

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And I found some old adjustable feet from an old filing cabinet and some bright hardware from a previous job.

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Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 18:40
by Malc2098
Family business for the next few days; back middle of next week.

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 19:52
by Pinch
Nice one Malc. Looking forward to seeing how this works. I have every confidence in you ole chap. 8-)

I'm now facing some challenges with my little hobby shop. :x

I know I'm not pro anymore, but I'm going from a 30'x18' shop (+ the mezz) to a wee little 8'x7' jobby. I've been doing a bit in there tonight, but got a bit flustered after walloping my finger! :|

Nice bit of beech. I like beech. 8-)

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 19:56
by Rod
Nice to make something of old wood and put it to good use but why the plunge saw?

Rod

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 20:48
by 9fingers
Malc2098 wrote:Family business for the next few days; back middle of next week.



Malc I'm detecting a distinct lack of commitment on these important projects? :lol: :lol:

Bob

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 21:09
by Malc2098
Rod wrote:Nice to make something of old wood and put it to good use but why the plunge saw?

Rod


My shoulders are giving me gyp, so I didn't fancy the handsaw, western or Japanese, I wasn't confident cutting the angles on the tables saw, the track saw did the job.

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 21:10
by Malc2098
Pinch wrote:Nice one Malc. Looking forward to seeing how this works. I have every confidence in you ole chap. 8-)

I'm now facing some challenges with my little hobby shop. :x

I know I'm not pro anymore, but I'm going from a 30'x18' shop (+ the mezz) to a wee little 8'x7' jobby. I've been doing a bit in there tonight, but got a bit flustered after walloping my finger! :|

Nice bit of beech. I like beech. 8-)


Thanks, Paul.

I do like the beech, too, especially with a an 80z blade!

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 21:10
by Malc2098
9fingers wrote:
Malc2098 wrote:Family business for the next few days; back middle of next week.



Malc I'm detecting a distinct lack of commitment on these important projects? :lol: :lol:

Bob


Don't start! :D

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 10 Aug 2018, 22:16
by Rod
I’ve just watched a very interesting programme on Ch 4 about Flying over England.
They visited a factory making propellers from Beech the traditional wood for them. I’d always imagined they would have used a more flexible timber like ash.

Rod

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 11 Aug 2018, 16:46
by RogerS
Rod wrote:..... I’d always imagined they would have used a more flexible timber like ash.

Rod


Absolutely not. You don't want your propeller flexing about all over the place and altering its pitch !

Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 11 Aug 2018, 18:57
by Rod
The owner has found some original plans (Blueprints)for a Spitfire prop and is going to produce them. At the moment they are all made in Germany!!
Anybody interested in planes ought to watch the programme, there’s 4 of them - first one should be on All4??

Rod

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 15 Aug 2018, 18:33
by Malc2098
Recent progress - the tilting caster carriages are fixed on to the base.

FYI - I bought a pack of Hafele 100mm hinges from Homebase. Three of the screws have broken! Hence different colours of screws and a couple of gaps.

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Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2018, 10:59
by will1983
Malc2098 wrote:FYI - I bought a pack of Hafele 100mm hinges from Homebase. Three of the screws have broken! Hence different colours of screws and a couple of gaps.


This always surprises me, it doesn't seem to matter how expensive or who makes the hardware, the screws are always sh*t!

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 23 Aug 2018, 15:59
by Malc2098
Well........it ain't pretty, but so far, It's functional.

I first tried using wood doweling for the shaft, but I could only get 20 mm diameter and the closest forstner bits I had were all 20mm and there wasn't a fit.

But, in the big orange DIY stores, they sell 19mm steel tubing and sockets which made ideal bushes either side of a wood support.

Anyway, now the sander is working it was quick work to make an eccentric cam thingy.

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Now to start building the cabinet onto the retraction frame.

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 23 Aug 2018, 17:16
by 9fingers
Nice mechanism Malc.
I think you will be far better off with the steel tube over time. I would be concerned about the torsional strength of dowelling over that length and 20mm diameter.

I might be tempted to insert a shim of low(er) friction plastic sheet between the cams and the flaps carrying the castors.

Bob

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 23 Aug 2018, 17:23
by Malc2098
9fingers wrote:Nice mechanism Malc.
I think you will be far better off with the steel tube over time. I would be concerned about the torsional strength of dowelling over that length and 20mm diameter.

I might be tempted to insert a shim of low(er) friction plastic sheet between the cams and the flaps carrying the castors.

Bob


Thanks, Bob.

Yes, I agree, now. I was going to do two separate short shafts, one at each end, and got the dowel for that. But realised quite quickly that I wouldn't be able to access the other end while the cabinet was stowed against a wall. All in all the 20mm shaft vs 20mm hole was the need to find another solution. Fortunately, I found it; steel tube operated from one end. I'm quite pleased with that.

Both woods are quite hard, beech and tulip. I might wax them both.

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 23 Aug 2018, 17:32
by 9fingers
Malc2098 wrote:
9fingers wrote:Nice mechanism Malc.
I think you will be far better off with the steel tube over time. I would be concerned about the torsional strength of dowelling over that length and 20mm diameter.

I might be tempted to insert a shim of low(er) friction plastic sheet between the cams and the flaps carrying the castors.

Bob


Thanks, Bob.

Yes, I agree, now. I was going to do two separate short shafts, one at each end, and got the dowel for that. But realised quite quickly that I wouldn't be able to access the other end while the cabinet was stowed against a wall. All in all the 20mm shaft vs 20mm hole was the need to find another solution. Fortunately, I found it; steel tube operated from one end. I'm quite pleased with that.

Both woods are quite hard, beech and tulip. I might wax them both.


As I was writing my earlier reply I nearly suggested slathering the cam with grease and then thought that would possibly dry out over time and soak into the wood hence the second idea of plastic shim. I don't think you need worry about wear for light hobby use but methods to reduce operating effort might be worth looking at such as wax/plastic etc. HDPE in the form of cheapo white chopping boards come to mind.

Bob

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 11:59
by Malc2098
Box cabinet made and fitted to caster frame. Machines installed and the cam doesn't appear to be struggling.

That's a little more space created.

On to the next!


Mod edit: Righted!

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Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 13:45
by Coley
Smart job Malc. Looking very organised and tidy

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 13:58
by Rod
I was going to congratulate you on your vertical stacking until I noticed the photo was the wrong way round.

Rod

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 14:06
by 9fingers
Rod wrote:I was going to congratulate you on your vertical stacking until I noticed the photo was the wrong way round.

Rod


Frustratingly, all i-pictures for use on the forum must be taken in portrait and with the volume buttons at the bottom of the frame in order to come out the right way round with the forum software. This is entirely due to the perverse way that Apple store their photos.

Bob

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 14:57
by Pinch
Well done Malc - top job! 8-)

Looks the danglies. 8-)

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 19:54
by Andyp
Nice ;)
Now the image is the right way up ;)

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 25 Aug 2018, 20:15
by Malc2098
Yay!

Thanks, Gents.

Re: Machine cart with retracting casters

PostPosted: 26 Aug 2018, 08:42
by RogerS
Well done, Malc.

So can we now say that your workshop is now officially open and ready for business ?

Wonder what ever happened to that other workshop being built a bit further North from you :eusa-whistle: