Wenching the 4th axis...

Mar 12, 2005 6 Replies

Awl--



Goodgawd... I don't know bout the Haas peeple with their 35 lb 4th axes, but this fadal jobby is the *heaviest* goddamm 165 # I've ever lifted--which I ain't liftin no more, what w/ neck, back 'n'all.



Now, I usually place my 4th axis (w/ snap handle) in the back/right quadrant of the table, and mostly just leave it there when I'm not using it, cuz w/ a little finagling there is usually room elsewhere for a cupla vices.



But I figgered if I got a HF cheap tawdry wench, ran her wire cable through a bitty hole up top, and mounted the wench on top, w/ her hook on the inside of the cabinet, THEN, w/ the press of a button I could raise, lower the 4th axis, and particularly conveniently, *store* the 4th axis up near the inside top of the cabinet, under wraps, and just leave it plugged in, when not in use--ie, suspended from said wench's hook.



I already have one wench, which I use therapeutically for inversion (neck/back, donchaknow...). But I've always wanted another wench on the side, and what better place to mount her than on the top of a Fadal??



Good/bad idear? Any other suggestions for hoisting that heavy-assed 4th axis?? I thought of a block/tackle arrangement, but I think that would use up too much inside cabinet vertical distance.



---------------------------- Mr. P.V.'d formerly Droll Troll


The preceding submission is proof that including an essay in the SAT exam is beneficial. Be sure to seal up your Fatal 4th axis with some silicone goop to keep coolant out of the works.

PV,

"> Goodgawd... I don't know bout the Haas peeple with their 35 lb 4th axes,

lifted--which

particularly

You'r talkin bout the little 5C 4th axis right ? Yea, they're heavy, I got one myself. Heavy is good unless it's just "you".

I was thinking about doing something similar myself, but I only use it for full 4 axis contouring once in a blue moon. "We" (and I can't over emphasize the plural here ) just hoist the chunky lil sucker up with a 3/4" bar through the lifting eye.

Being as your a one man band, you might want to think about mounting a piece of unistrut, up under the overhead to the right of the connector, in the "Y" direction. I think you can buy stout little trolleys that ride in it. Hook your hoist up to the trolley and just slide it back against the back wall outta the way. You may want to use a 3/8" x 1" bar of steel on the backside of the sheet metal instead of nuts. Lay the holes out from the top to make sure you're clear of the wire channel running to the control.

As someone else said, Put a bag over it when your not using it. The air collet gets all gucked up from coolant.

Regards

Mark

lifted--which

particularly

Fer cryin' out lout, PV - we just takes a board and lays it on der table and slides der big, honkin' indexer onto a roll-away cart. After we unplugs der cables, of kerse.

moT

lifted--which

particularly

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Hehehe...

It usually ends up taking about 2 people, a forklift, and a little luck. I've used a cherry picker, with weight on the back, or you could extend the boom longer so it will clear the base. Just do the testing to make sure it is safe for the weight. I have one Rotary setup that weighs about 300lbs, it is on a 1.250" plate so I can hang the motor part off the table. My seconds shift guys told me they ended up just sliding it off the Forks!!!!!!! Unsafe, but they said it worked well. In the near future we will probably just make a special sliding plate the one person can safely use the Hydraulic cart to put it up on the table. Making matters worse is that we have a full Fourth for both sides of the stationary table.

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