SG or no SG?

As far as surface grinders are concerned, I think they are an asset; I do not use mine real often (a 6 x 18 B&S Micromaster), but it owes me little as it was a gift from a friend; it has power cross and long feed, automatic oiling and a Neutrofier magnetic control and is deadly accurate. I have fixture for it for threading tool grinding, die chaser sharpening, planer blade re sharpening etc. If you have the room, and the occasional need and can find one for an affordable price, why not. I also have a #1 Norton T&C grinder and use it often for all sorts of small sharpening and cylindrical grinding jobs.
 
Plan is for at least two gantries. One in the area of the trailer and the other in the rebuild area.
I've been drawing where doors might be and how they might position relative to 3ph outlets.
I understand the work in progress thing and am trying to figure out the optimal situation.
I think the largest I can go might be 30'x30' I need to wait until snow clears before I can actually effectively measure. This will be tied into the existing 30'x60'.
In the pic the farthest bay is wood. Tall door is for truck and large gantry for trailer unloading. closest door is for my brides little car and the ATV.
Welding and rough fab behind the small man door and near her car (with welding curtains).
The addition will be on side most visible in this pic. 5" reinforced with extra rebar+. Somewhere I need to find space for a clean room (inspection) and grinding.

Daryl
MN
11582-422nd-Street-Clark-Twp-MN-55787-4860558-image14.jpg
 
When you get the SG, you will wonder how you got along without it. And how many times have you said that with the other stuff in your shop!
 
I think the largest I can go might be 30'x30' I need to wait until snow clears before I can actually effectively measure.

Daryl
MN
Daryl,
In MN I'd be thinking more about whether to install radiant hot water heat than a surface grinder, but that's just me and I'm a West Coast Wimp.;)

Interested to watch your project (and SG) as it comes along.
Evan
 
On the SG - if you want it it will come! Nice shop!
 
I see your in Mn, no idea where or how close to anything you are. Can you get parts everyday of the week?

I ask because imigine that guy comes in with an almost done bearing replacement. As he was pressing that bearing in one of those needles fell out of place and snapped with the pressure. It's Sunday he needs it done, willing to pay, but you can't get that replacement.

Grab the closest oversize hardened dowel, drop it in the spin fixture and grind to size.

In a one off, fixing stuff shop I say the same as others you will be surprised how often you need it.
 
I use my surface grinder as much or more than my lathe and my mill. It is the newest (to me) machine I have, so that probably is part of it, but it is the mag chuck that makes it the machine of choice for many small jobs. Most setups are a snap on a surface grinder. Also, need a thinner washer or nut, mag it on and start grinding. A few minutes and it is done. Mine is 6x18, but so far I have not done anything close to the capacity of the grinder. I am sure I will, though...

A tool and cutter grinder in good repair could do a large part of what I do with the SG, if it had a mag chuck.
 
Pursuant to shop design...
Are there any suggestions on minimum ceiling height for a machine shop? Yes, I know high is good as it facilitates ventilation as well as moving machines.
There are clear and appropriate rules on welding fab areas which have alot to do with ventilation of fumes.
Moving forward I'm hoping to isolate welding (SMAW and GTAW) from machine tools, as well as a walled off (clean) inspection area, and ideally a separate grinding area.

Daryl
MN
 
I saw this when you first posted, and have thought about it a lot!

I have an 8' 2"height, and I'd have rather had a 10' ceiling. Here's my 2 cents worth...
If you frame with 10' studs, with a single sill on bottom and double on top (required by code here) you end up with a 10'4" ceiling with sheathing.
If you recess the lights, you keep that 10'4" which is plenty for a full sized mill and gantry crane,
- There's even some room for some overhead storage over certain machines...
--- and -- it isn't too high making lighting really tough. I've worked in 14' and 18' bays and the lighting was always atrocious! That's the 'inverse sqare law' of light workig against you... And you can always bring the lights down, but there is no way to get more clearance,,,
 
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