The part I always dreaded has finally come

[wcsg]

It's time to move. The time I always new would come has finally come. Any Advice on moving this 4'x8'? I was thinking four guys and a short low to the ground flat bed trailer from uhaul. Worse case scenerio disassembly, which I don't wanna do.

Any story's would be great. The things you did and wish you woulda done.

[olecrafty]

I watched as Randy Rice moved His machine. UHauls standard 6ft wide trailer will not carry the bot. The back gate opening is to small.

If you can find a lowboy trailer with ramps to rent or borrow that worked well. Randy removed the pads from the bottom of the legs and Mounted casters. He lifted the gantry off the rails and secured it to the table. He removed the y car and secured it also.

The use of automotive style hydroulic jack and long pry bars will assist in the process.

Five strong people is a good number. Any less and the process is a job instead of a task.

I am sure Randy could give you a few tips if he has time.

[bob_reda]

I moved one from Clevaland to Pittsburgh, about 3 hours drive. strapped everything down on the table, unplugged the motors, and put in the back of a pickup (It was a prt48) didn't even uplug the wireing. Got it home, 4 young men lifted off the truck into the shop, Plugged her in and off I went>

Bob

[randy]

Here's how I moved mine:

Removed the X & Y motors.
Blocked up the gantry to prevent damage to either the rollers or rails.
Removed the Y car.
Tied/screwed everything down.
Replaced the feet with 4" casters.
Rolled the Bot up ramps onto a trailer.

If you rent a U-Haul trailer, make sure that the tailgate goes all the way across the rear. They also have a model that opens only the center four feet; you definitely don't want that one (DAMHIKT).

Good luck with the move.

[Brady Watson]

4 trailer jacks with wheels will cost you $60 from Harbor Freight...Jack them up & roll it out. You only need 2 guys to remove gantry, clock it 90° onto the table (after you remove the X steppers) and push it into a trailer or onto a flatbed. Shrinkwrap and ratcheting tiedowns work great. I've moved 3 of these puppies so far.

-B

[wcsg]

This the one Brady?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41004

What did you attach them to on the table? Drill holes and attach? I like your idea

[mikejohn]

Erik
I also dreaded the inevitable!
Not knowing how your table is made, I can not give exact advice.
In my case my table is metal, to the 'Gerald' design, where both sides are welded, then all cross members/supports bolted on
I removed with help the y carriage seperate from the x carriage.
I simply unpluged all cables.
I didn't move far, about 5 miles.
I carried the x car in the back of my car with the back seats folded down, on a sheet of foam.
Later the y car travelled on the back seat with someone holding it.
I protected the x rails.I then lay both sides down on the floor of a van, side by side, protecting them with blocks from making any lateral movement (or knocking the x rail)
All other table parts went in the van.
When I came to reassembling (this is mentioned elsewhere on the Forum) after putting a long bubble level along and across the table and slightly adjusting the feet, I spent over 2 hours measuring and re-measuring the 'bot, because it had gone together perfectly!I simply could not believe that it needed no adjustment at all.
I guess I was extremely luck (or Geralds table design is extremely good
)
I made sure I had 3 guys to help me though!

...........Mike

[nappy1]

I moved my machine with a 6 x 12 landscape trailer. Put it on dollies and rolled it up the trailer.
Be sure to strap it down 8 ways. Before you shut it down, drop the Z into a block of thick foam.

[harryball]

I used a 7' x 14' landscape style trailer with a mesh gate.

I've used a forklift set on my JD tractor loader. Use long forks and spread them as far apart as possible. Then used 4x4's to catch all the support ribs.

I also used the car jack and dolly method. It works well for moving it around the shop but I didn't have much luck rolling it up or down ramps. Granted, I didn't try much since I have the forklift.

Robert

[blaz_in_az]

I moved from Minnesota to Arizona this past year, and everything worked fine. I had a 6' x 12' enclosed trailer.

I tied everything down on the gantry with nylon ties, lifted the gantry off the table and moved it still connected to the control box.

I removed the leg assemblies, and tipped the table on its side and slid it into the trailer. By using small dollies, I used only one other person.

All the loose bolts were bagged and marked. Actually it was moved twice. First into storage, and then into my shop. I hired two extra guys to move it into position. Later I used a hydralic car jack, one end at a time, and reattached the legs.

Once assembled, I just rechecked square and level. It was near perfect.

Tim

[btk]

If you move with the wires attached. Very important to check that the wires are still firmly connnected in Wago's BEFORE turning the control box on for the first time. I moved machine 3 times and fried a chip due to a loose wire the first time. The second time, I Labeled and then disconnected everything to avoid any incidental pulling on the wires.

Also be sure to label which side of the table is 0,0 before moving as that might save some time.

[Brady Watson]

Erik,
Those look like the ones. They clamp on. You can also make a set of wheeled 'booties' like Bill P. made. If the search function on here actually worked...I think there is a photo of them.

-B

[billp]

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/7/11551.html#POST32372

[steve4460]

Hi Erik
A freind of mine bought a bot with trailer tong lifts on all 4 legs , you know the type with wheels on them . he can just crank the bot up and push it around the shop or where ever and then lower it and he is ready to go .It might not be the cheepest option but it shure works good and it is easy to bold on .
Bot on

[wcsg]

I just ordered those crank jacks for trailers. Thank you all for all your input it's very much appreciated. I feel waaaaaaay better about moving this sucker now. I'll let you all know how it went.

Thx again

Erik

[steve4460]

Hi Erik

Please post some pictures of the bot in motion afterwards .
Bot on

[jim_hansen]

If I were to move my bot I would back my hydraulic boat trailer around it slide the bars under pick it up, strap it down and go. But I've moved to much stuff I am not going anywhere.

[gary_n]

I just recently moved my PRT 96 on 10' 4 X 4 skids bolted to the legs after the adjustable feet were removed. I hired a local towing guy with a flat bed bend-over bed for $50.00. His winch slowly pulled the 'bot right up onto the bed of the truck. After tying it down, off we went to my new shop. I tied the moveable gantry down and that was it. The skids had a 45 degree cut on both ends. Best and easiest move possible.

[gwilson]

Just got my bot, it had 4 of the jacks Brady mention mount on it, removed wiring, and removed gantry (placed all this in van). Rolled table on trailer and on the way, unloaded just as smooth.
Gerald Wilson

[wcsg]

Well It's done. I don't get how to post pics here so I have a link here with pics on how I moved my PRTAlpha 4 x 8

http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=13&t=1380&st=0#entry7328

Rev Your Step Motors!!!!

[jamesgilliam]

Erik, So glad to see that you posted pics as I am about to move mine in about three weeks. I have already got the trailer jacks, but working against a deadline in the new shop. How far did you have to move the Bot? I have about 30 miles to go with mine and am considering not removing the X carriage. What do you think?

[harryball]

When I picked mine up from the show to bring it home (about 40 miles) I didn't remove the gantry, Chris with Shopbot had raised it up on blocks and then strapped it tight down against the insides of the rails. Everything was tied off and I ran some straps over everything to make sure it was well secured. Rode home with no trouble.

Robert

[Brady Watson]

Erik,
Glad you got it moved OK.

James & Jo,
I always recommend removing the X steppers from the gantry & clocking the gantry 90° onto the spoilboard. Then ratchet strap it down. You don't want the v-rollers dinging the rail when you hit a bump. You can do what Robert points out, but make sure the X motors are protected from impact and that the wood blocks completely raise the gantry off of the rails.

-B