Mill sizes.......

Well I may be doing some re arranging in my shop already lol. I had an idea and kinda of liked it. But to do that, I will have to move my 3 phase outlets..oh well. But any way, whenever I get around to purchasing a mill, I keep thinking I will end up along the lines of a Clausing 8520, Mill rite etc, smaller vertical mills. What is the round about foot print I should keep in mind with these?

Thanks,
Chris

Chris,
I generally allow 1 additional table width and depth on every side. That will insure that you can go all the way to the limits and even have some overhang before you get a space issue. Open space around machine tools is a tough subjest because I do a lot of tube work and it always overhangs when I am coping or bending it so I have to leave lots of room or have my machines set up on casters. I dont really like the caster idea too much because I have been known to use an 8 Lb persuader to make a part give or move a bit.... I dont want the machine to skitter away when I am persuading. I have added several truck reciever tubes to the bottom of my 4x6 fab table to allow me to interchange grinders, bending horses, sanders,vices, and chop saws in a smaller space. I store the premounted machines on a rack and just grab the one I need and slide it home and slip in the pin and tighten the jamb bolt to take out any slop. I also had to mount the controller and computer for my plasma table from a track on the ceiling so I can move it out of the wat when I am not running the plasma table. Got all those pieces at TSC in the barn door hanger department. Hope this helps.

Bob

Alot of people like to put their machines against the wall but if you have room you might want to set your mill and lathe back to back in the middle of your shop and work benches around the outside it leaves room for work and cleanup.

If you angle your machines, it will be easier to transport long stock in and out of chucks, tables.

Clausing 8520. 52 wide to accommodate for X Travel. 43" Deep 68" Tall.

"Billy G"

Thanks all for the info. I was going to put the lathe up against a wall and leave too in the corner for a mill. I was give a corner cabinet and a 12 foot long counter top. Which would fit in the space where the lathe is. So I was thinking of putting the lathe in the center, (I have 4 support posts in the center of the shop) and leave room on one end of the lathe. Here is a picture of how it is now. Just 180 everything. How do you all think it will work out? Don't make fun of the mess lol :roflmao:

Thanks,
Chris

If you do that you could build a small jib crane or a HF pickup truck crane on a base in the middle to change chucks on the lathe and vises & stuff on your mill when you get old. And yes you will get old before you lose interest in this hobby !

That is an idea. Hmmm... :thinking: Sorry about my spelling in the above post. I need to pay attention to this autocorrect lol.

Thanks,
Chris

I am putting casters under everything in my shop, workbenches and machines.
Makes cleaning easier, and rearranging doesn't require 4 burly men.

When my brother and I were discussing the layout of my shop (24' x 24') we allowed about 18" between the equipment & the walls. We wanted to be able to get behind the machines for cleanup.

Depending on the type of mill you bet, don't forget ram movement "behind" the mill.