I work on a CNC Plasma table.
It is a downdraft table with slats. Approximately 20' x 10'.
We have a 5Ton crane with an 8" magnet. We cut up 20x10 sheets of metal.
The metal thickness is from 3/8" to 3/4" thick. Approx 6000 pounds.
Only a few times a year do we cut up the 3/4" metal.
Daily we use 3/8" and 1/2". The pieces vary in size from 10' x 15' to small 28"x27". The smaller stuff we can use the 8" magnet.
What do you guys use to clear your table? OR, even put the metal onto the table. My management is contemplating buying a magnet to pick up 6000 pounds. SO; I will have an 8" magnet and a Monster magnet.
Wont it just pull up the slats and generally make a mess of things.
Maybe great to LOAD the metal onto the table, but otherwise useless.
Our machine is only 4 years old or so and we have NO experience with this.
Any help would be appreciated. If there is a better thread, please recommend it to me please.
MrElder
Can you pick up a 20' x 10' sheet of 3/8" with one magnet? Seems like you might need a couple to keep it from folding up on you.
If the magnet had a tendency to lift the slats, it would be easy enough to tie them down with zip ties or something, it wouldn't have much strength on the slats. I'd think you would pick up a lot of slag though, I guess it would be easy enough to clean it off being an electromagnet.
Wow; thanks guys for the suggestions, the vacuum would be great as 25% of our work is stainless.
But the stainless is only 120x60 sheets; mostly.
So I can cut them at the end and use a forklift.
I really like the vacuum idea. We called in some salesman for metal-handling;
but, really they just want to sell us the most expensive thing they have.
I have to work here, and use this equipment daily.
Your suggestions are "all" helpful on my quest to get the best equipment for the job.
Thank you guys SO much.
I really love my little magnet; but, it is WAY too small and dangerous.
I had a hernia surgery AND stitches. Both due to not having the right equipment. Picked up a piece of metal that the magnet wouldn't handle and
it let go and swung into my chin. Both surgeries in one month,,February was not good to me.
We use lifting clamps as well. Kinda more of a corner hook i guess, since you don't have a clamp to tighten down. Magnets don't work very well on aluminum , and too much debris for the vacuum.