Steel Table

[saintjohnbosco@yahoo.com]

Does anyone have a picture of the steel shopbot table? I want to get some quotes from some local welding shops and see if I can have one built and save some money, but It would be nice to have a picture to describe the table better.

[bruce_clark]

Mr. Fisk,

I have a steel table, but I don't have a picture
of it. I believe that ShopBot has some images of
their steel table on their website.

What I can say, is it EXACTLY the same as the wooden
frame one, but made of 2" X 6" steel tubing for the
sides and 1" x 2" tubing for the braces.

Now, the only thing is I would not have one complete
welded up, unless they make some sort of jig, as
once it is welded and one of those braces/truces
is out, there is NO way to fix it. The SB table
is bolted together, which may not be as rigid as
welding, but it allowed me to get my table level
and true.

Bruce Clark
bwclark@centuryinter.net (mailto:bwclark@centuryinter.net)

[birdsofplay]

OK OK OK ...
I want a Steel table too, but ???
IF it aint welded and therefore as rigid as it could be ...
THEN what's the point over a well built wood table?
I hear ya Bruce, when you want adjustment for tuning in the assy.

Steel expands and contracts with temps too !
Is this just a "guy thing" Que es mas macho ?

Dont get me wrong I WANT ONE TOO but is it really really worth it considering all the other issues we are dealing with regarding overal accuracy.

[saintjohnbosco@yahoo.com]

My reason for the steel table is bugs! My shop is currently infested with a whole range of bugs that like wood. I think I can get new wood in and out fast enough for it to avoid infestation, but as for the furnature bugs don't eat steel.
With the Florida humitity I'm afraid will be changing my wood table faster then I can recalibrate it. The temperature is pretty constant HOT. Since I'm just setting up in Florida I thought why not avoid the bug issue all together. Besides when I transported my table I dropped it and broke the wooden 2x8 and need to fix the old one or move over to steel.

[Ron B]

David,

I built mine of 14 ga metal building C-perlin. I used 3" C-perlin on 16" Centers flat for the cross braces in 6" receiver channel. The only problem I have is the vertical receiver channel is not as stiff as one would like. But, that is curable.

If one thought 'adjustabilty' was an issue, turnbuckles can be used. I used some bar clamps and flat diagonal strapping to assure mine stays square.

Ron

[saintjohnbosco@yahoo.com]

Ron, Thanks I'm not familiar with this perlin what is it and where would I get it? Could you explain what receiver channel is, so I don't sound stuppid when I call the companies.

[birdsofplay]

OK ... I gotcha now !!! :-)

In Michigan the crickets are moving in to avoid the frost. They'll be gone in a coupla weeks.

Maybe you could train a herd of palmetto bugs to help load/unload stock for you, he he he

BTW I finally got my NEW STYLE Z axis installed
last evening !!! Pretty Slick :-)
Yeah yeah I know ... why'd I wait so long ? sigh

[bwclark@centuryinter.net]

Mr. Fisk:

If the Florida humidity is anything like the Texas
humidity, you will soon be facing a FAR WORSE
enemy than bugs! It is a steel cancer called
RUST! Nothing stops it.

So, take your pick.

Oh, a suggestions for future table building. If
bugs are a problem in your area, ALWAYS build out
of pressure treated lumber. I don't care if it is
a SB table or a deck for your new house. In humid
environments, PTL is the ONLY stuff that will last
and it only cost a little more then regular
lumber.

Bruce Clark
bwclark@centuryinter.net (mailto:bwclark@centuryinter.net)

[birdsofplay]

I had another thought here,

Why not try using UNISTRUT, the SB erector set stuff, for the whole table ?
I got my extra Unistrut from a place called FASTEC.
They have all the plates and bolts and nuts to please your inventive hearts.
Plently of adjustability before you really tighten things down.
And, Bruce, it's at least plated steel so there should be some measure of corrosion resistance.

I built a little workstation outa the stuff, for mounting a cutting mechanism.
I used one of those fiber type metal cutting blades to hack off to length.
Lotsa sparks so whatch out !

It's like being a kid again with a giant erector set :-) wheeee !

[Ron B]

David,

Receiver channel is 'half a piece of rectangular tubing' C-perlin is a piece of metal folded to look like a "C".

I took some pictures and will send via E-mail.

HTH
Ron