Adjustable Feet on Heavy Machine Tools (not lathes)

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

Hello,

I have got to move my workshop around and I am wondering about the benefits or otherwise of using adjustable feet.

My workshop has a crappy uneven concreate floor (my big regret is that I didn't know enough at the time to lay a new floor when I took it on).

The machines I will be moving and installing are:

Deckel FP1
Big Twin Head Pollard Drill Press
Alba 10" Shaper
Clarkson Tool & Cutter Grinder

All of these are on the original cast iron stands or bases and 'full height' machines.

The advantages in my mind are:

1/ Being able to level the machine easily.

2/ Ensuring that the machine doesn't have any rock, due to uneven floor.

3/ Being able to leave a small gap under the base to put a pry bar in to move.

My concerns are:

1/ It might 'walk' – particularly the shaper?

2/ Will it increase vibration – mainly with the mill and shaper.

I'd be really interested in your thoughts on this and wether the special vibration feet are good idea – the main selling point seems to be noise, which isn't really any issue in this context.

If you have any brands you have used and found good please do let me know.

Many thanks,

James

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

If you fit the adjustable feet to steel square section tube fixed to the underside of the machines, the ends can be made slightly longer than the base and this improves the stability.It also makes it easier to make adjustments. Some of the adjustable feet have rubber bases so they might help stop a machine walking.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

If the machines have bolt holes for fixing own, use them for that. Shimmed level and secure would be my choice.

No rocking.

If the floor is that uneven, there will be a place to get a pry bar under.🙂

Avoid your concerns.

 

Edited By not done it yet on 03/08/2023 21:27:30

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

None of these actually need to be level. Therefore since only one corner will ever be 'in the air' you only need one wedge to take up the slack. Another option, currently in discussion on HSM forum, is fitting everything on 4in timber beams each side so you can get a pallet truck under for moving around.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I put rubber matting under my shaper, partly to stop it walking but also to remove the vibration transmitted into the concrete floor which could be felt in the house

[mgnbukParticipant @mgnbuk]

I mounted my shaper on studs Rawlbolted into the the less-than-perfectly-flat concrete garage floor – can't recall if they were 10 or 12mm studs. When it had been leveled (nuts & washers on the studs, shaper set on these then locked in place with another set of nuts & washers) I grouted it in – so it isn't going anywhere !

The Myford & FB2 clone mill are just bolted to the floor.

Nigel B.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Same as Ady1 but my rubber sheet came courtesy of BR ex rail chair rubbers!

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

Thanks so much for the input everyone, all really helpful. The concrete in the workshop is very poor and I can imagine it breaking up if I tried to drill down to put bolts in. Also I want to have the flexibility to move things around if I need to.

Has anyone got any experience on the effect of rubber or vibration abosorbing feet has on surface quality? I'm guess it's an improvement over unbolted steel on concrete or hard metal/hard plastic feet on concrete?

James

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

Had the problem of uneven floor in worshop and so used the anti vibration machine pads from RDG. My Tom Senior mill is as solid as a rock.

Regards Saxalby

And my Boxford lathe

Edited By Saxalby on 04/08/2023 14:20:23

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

my Elliott 14 inch shaper just sat on the concrete floorand never moved,so does my Clarkson grinder, and that can be moved easily by hand by rocking corner to corner no real need to secure in position .the Pollard two spindle drill is a big top heavy machine,there was a three head Pollard where I first worked,and I spent a fair amount of time on it ,very good machine, Absolutely no question that machine must be leveled wedged with steel wedges,and bolted down with rawlbolts. And do not put it on timber and move it with a pallet truck,thats asking for trouble.Dont know about the FP! ,I have only had experience with an FP3 and that machine was mounted on anti vibration pads,though when it was firstinstalled it rested on its base feet, though I cannot remember if Deckel mills are like a lot of grinders with only 3 mounting feet.. Though some prat in charge thought it would be better if all the machines were on anti vibration pads,made no difference .

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