Re: [time-nuts] Test equipment / work benches...
james.p.lux@jpl.nasa.gov said:
Where I used to work (a mechanical special effects shop), we used to
think about a scheme where you'd have a bench base that supported a
removable bench top. The bench top had raised edges on sides and back
(so stuff doesn't roll off), and a removable front edge. Then, you'd
have a big motorized storage rack for the benchtops. Each project
then gets it's own bench top. Work on project 1 for a few hours,then,
stow it, and pull out benchtop 2 for the next project.
What do you do when the storage rack is full of cluttered bench tops?
--
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Hi
You get one of those high rise rotating storage gizmos that will store 200 bench tops in an area 40' wide x 30' deep x 600' tall.
Bob
On Jan 24, 2010, at 2:34 PM, Hal Murray wrote:
james.p.lux@jpl.nasa.gov said:
Where I used to work (a mechanical special effects shop), we used to
think about a scheme where you'd have a bench base that supported a
removable bench top. The bench top had raised edges on sides and back
(so stuff doesn't roll off), and a removable front edge. Then, you'd
have a big motorized storage rack for the benchtops. Each project
then gets it's own bench top. Work on project 1 for a few hours,then,
stow it, and pull out benchtop 2 for the next project.
What do you do when the storage rack is full of cluttered bench tops?
--
These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.
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Hal Murray wrote:
james.p.lux@jpl.nasa.gov said:
Where I used to work (a mechanical special effects shop), we used to
think about a scheme where you'd have a bench base that supported a
removable bench top. The bench top had raised edges on sides and back
(so stuff doesn't roll off), and a removable front edge. Then, you'd
have a big motorized storage rack for the benchtops. Each project
then gets it's own bench top. Work on project 1 for a few hours,then,
stow it, and pull out benchtop 2 for the next project.
What do you do when the storage rack is full of cluttered bench tops?
Finally finish a project sounds like a good thing. Or maybe just merge
two benchtops not in need of the full space.
Work on the low-haning fruit and get satisfaction from completeing
something. :)
Cheers,
Magnus
Hi
Complete something !! Yikes what a terrible idea. That would involve actually doing all the un-fun things that I've been putting off once the fun stuff was all done.
Bob
On Jan 24, 2010, at 4:51 PM, Magnus Danielson wrote:
Hal Murray wrote:
james.p.lux@jpl.nasa.gov said:
Where I used to work (a mechanical special effects shop), we used to
think about a scheme where you'd have a bench base that supported a
removable bench top. The bench top had raised edges on sides and back
(so stuff doesn't roll off), and a removable front edge. Then, you'd
have a big motorized storage rack for the benchtops. Each project
then gets it's own bench top. Work on project 1 for a few hours,then,
stow it, and pull out benchtop 2 for the next project.
What do you do when the storage rack is full of cluttered bench tops?
Finally finish a project sounds like a good thing. Or maybe just merge two benchtops not in need of the full space.
Work on the low-haning fruit and get satisfaction from completeing something. :)
Cheers,
Magnus
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Bob Camp wrote:
Hi
Complete something !! Yikes what a terrible idea. That would involve actually doing all the un-fun things that I've been putting off once the fun stuff was all done.
Well, it may be a provoking idea to some, but there is a joy in actually
having done those other things as well and have a working something. At
least, that is what I've heard from friends who say they know someone
that had an uncle that did it... maybe I'll try it myself some day.
Cheers,
Magnus
On 1/24/10 2:06 PM, "Bob Camp" lists@cq.nu wrote:
Hi
Complete something !! Yikes what a terrible idea. That would involve actually
doing all the un-fun things that I've been putting off once the fun stuff was
all done.
Bob
Well, even though we had a fair amount of time to tinker with "ideas that
might pan out", most of the work was actually for a client and had a defined
delivery date (usually in a couple weeks from starting the job).
And, of course, it's just like running out of room in the garage. Do you
just buy a bigger garage?
Hi
.... rent a bigger storage locker .... guilty ....
Bob
On Jan 24, 2010, at 6:48 PM, Lux, Jim (337C) wrote:
On 1/24/10 2:06 PM, "Bob Camp" lists@cq.nu wrote:
Hi
Complete something !! Yikes what a terrible idea. That would involve actually
doing all the un-fun things that I've been putting off once the fun stuff was
all done.
Bob
Well, even though we had a fair amount of time to tinker with "ideas that
might pan out", most of the work was actually for a client and had a defined
delivery date (usually in a couple weeks from starting the job).
And, of course, it's just like running out of room in the garage. Do you
just buy a bigger garage?
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and follow the instructions there.
My lab/workshop is my dining room (it's great being single) and I just
went out and bought a very sturdy workbench that was on our auction
site from a person just across town. The top was pretty poor and
grubby so I just skimmed it with a sheet of plywood and it came up
nice. I had to assemble the trestles and the top in the room as it was
in pieces as there was no way I could get it through the door, and two
of us could hardly lift the heavy top. I recon it could easily support
a small car or a couple of truck engines so all the heavy gear I have
on it now is well within it's limits. I certainly wanted something
strong and deep enough to hold the sort of gear we use plus have room
at the front and back of the instruments and found most of the modern
workbences were too weak and far too narrow for me.
My advice is to make sure you have ample depth in any work bench so
you can have power distribution and cables at the back plus space at
the front to hold devices under test. Also make sure it is strong
enough so you can pile it full of gear and be able to stand on it so
you can lean over the back to plug things in and out. I discovered
this at my last place of work where we had some benches that started
to sag badly so one of my collages designed the bench from hell. It
was the sort of over engineered construction that come an earthquake
or bomb you rush over to it and hid underneath as that one could
probably hold up a truck :-)
The bad thing is that they want to replace the carpet in my house so
heaven knows how I'm going to shift this thing :-)
Steve
Steve Rooke - ZL3TUV & G8KVD
A man with one clock knows what time it is;
A man with two clocks is never quite sure.
If the top is a two-person lift, and you are
putting all your heavy equipment on it, and
you are not on a concrete floor, you may want
to align the bench legs with the floor joists
or use plates to distribute the weight. :)
My shop bench is made from wood from our family's
barn. The legs are 6 by 6 inch (15 cm) and
the long dimension framing is 2 by 12 inch
(5 by 30 cm) and leg brace/foot rests are 2 by 2
inch (5 cm). I had to use threaded rod because
the local hardware stores did not have bolts long
enough. This wood was old when we purchased
the farm in 1953. I built it as a tribute to
our old barn. I mounted my father-in-law's big
metal vise/vice on it. It is 11.5 inches (30 cm)
high and 29 inches (74 cm) from front to back
when closed. The screw handle is 7/8 inch (2 cm)
in diameter and 16.75 inches (43 cm) long. I
was barely able to lift the vise to the bench
top to mount it.
I also have my father's half-century old Sears
vise mounted on the bench. It is 17 inches (43 cm)
long (closed) and 11.5 inches (29 cm) high. The
vise is in remarkably good condition, especially
considering all the projects we used it for.
The attached photo shows the bench with the
appropriate number of projects on it.
Mike - AA8K
Steve Rooke wrote:
My lab/workshop is my dining room (it's great being single) and I just
went out and bought a very sturdy workbench that was on our auction
Solid concrete floors here. I wouldn't have trusted my bench and all
the kit I have on it (and under it) on floorboards alone, I'd probably
have laid down a thick piece of ply to cover the area under the bench
and therefore spread the weight or at least put some pieces under each
4x2" leg.
Steve
2010/1/26 Mike Naruta AA8K aa8k@comcast.net:
If the top is a two-person lift, and you are
putting all your heavy equipment on it, and
you are not on a concrete floor, you may want
to align the bench legs with the floor joists
or use plates to distribute the weight. :)
My shop bench is made from wood from our family's
barn. The legs are 6 by 6 inch (15 cm) and
the long dimension framing is 2 by 12 inch
(5 by 30 cm) and leg brace/foot rests are 2 by 2
inch (5 cm). I had to use threaded rod because
the local hardware stores did not have bolts long
enough. This wood was old when we purchased
the farm in 1953. I built it as a tribute to
our old barn. I mounted my father-in-law's big
metal vise/vice on it. It is 11.5 inches (30 cm)
high and 29 inches (74 cm) from front to back
when closed. The screw handle is 7/8 inch (2 cm)
in diameter and 16.75 inches (43 cm) long. I
was barely able to lift the vise to the bench
top to mount it.
I also have my father's half-century old Sears
vise mounted on the bench. It is 17 inches (43 cm)
long (closed) and 11.5 inches (29 cm) high. The
vise is in remarkably good condition, especially
considering all the projects we used it for.
The attached photo shows the bench with the
appropriate number of projects on it.
Mike - AA8K
Steve Rooke wrote:
My lab/workshop is my dining room (it's great being single) and I just
went out and bought a very sturdy workbench that was on our auction
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--
Steve Rooke - ZL3TUV & G8KVD
A man with one clock knows what time it is;
A man with two clocks is never quite sure.