How to handle material in a small shop?

[TT350]

Hi

I’m warming myself up for a new plasma table. I got to doing some thinking and I have no way of handling the material that I would be cutting. Could some of you guys offer me some advice or even post some pics of your shop of how you handle your material from its storage rack to the plasma table. Just keep in mind that I don’t have a huge shop. No room for a forklift. So some sort of gantry system will have to be installed in my shop and the plate more than likely will have to be stored in a rack on its edge against the wall. So if some of you guys are working in similar conditions and have come up with a solution of how to get your plate from point A to point B, I’d like to know.

Chris

[jpgdesigns]

What thickness and sizes of plates will you be handling?

I have a large forklift (12K) to get plates off the truck/trailer then have a gantry crane (similar to Spanco, that rolls on inverted angle iron track) The only draw-back is head height... you can figure, depending on hoist configuration, 14" to 30" below beam will be used by the hoist and trolly. Low head room hoist are nice but are very pricey.

Handling plate on edge can be tricky... but with the right plate clamps it won't be bad.
Just consider lifting height and weight with rigging equipment included(slings, spreader beam, plate clamps, shackles, etc.)

[DareBee]

Put in a Jib Crane with a chain fall or electric hoist and use a plate clamp for vertical moving and a magnet for flat moving.

[ImanCarrot]

Would an engine hoist do the job? you know the ones mechanics lift your engine out of the car with?

[Big John T]

Originally Posted by ImanCarrot Would an engine hoist do the job? you know the ones mechanics lift your engine out of the car with?

That's what I use to get my plates out of my rack. Of course 11 gauge is the thickest plate I have in 4x8 sheets... and I'm real careful moving them...

John

[DareBee]

The engine hoist can be difficult or even scary to use because they often don't roll so good due to imperfections and crap on the floor.
It is a decent (inexpensive) alternative.
If you are running a real business I would spend the extra on a good system.
At a proper charge out rate a good system will pay for itself in saved time and injuries.
There is no chance I would ever convince my employees to work with the engine hoist on a daily basis.

[Big John T]

If I had a for hire shop then I would have proper handling equipment for sure. As a hobby most people won't spend that kind of money except one that I know of... The engine hoist does not scare me one bit... I don't do stupid things with the hoist either... If someone is in my shop and says "here hold my beer and watch this!" I scatter...

John

[TT350]

It will be a fore hire shop and I'm not scared of
spending a little money but I would like to
see how people are handling there materiel
so I can see what will work best for me.

The engine hoist will get it out of the rack
and to the table but how would 1 guy get a
4x8 3/8 steel plate on the table with out killing
your machine or your self?

[cam1]

Our goal is to come home with 10 toes and 10 fingers .
I second DareBee's opinion.
We installed a 2T capacity jib crane with an electric hoist for under 5K (Kleton from McMaster Carr). The Jib is easy to install, and it in combination with the electric hoist and a sheetmetal gripper allows 1 guy to load a 4 X 8 X 3/4" sheet.

[hybidder]

If you have room in your shop a forklift is the best answer (IMHO anyway). They are self-propelled and untethered so you could use it to unload your material from the delivery truck, place it on a storage rack and when ready use ot to load it onto your plasma table plus all the other uses you'll find for one. None of the other options offer the same flexibility..

[TT350]

No room for a forklift.

Any one have pic's?

[DareBee]

http://www.avenuesupply.com/ecommerc...no=&ship_no=-1