MechMate CNC Router Forum

Go Back   MechMate CNC Router Forum > Structure & Mechanics > 10. Base Table
Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old Wed 01 September 2010, 23:54
Red_boards
Just call me: Red #91
 
Melbourne
Australia
Welding legs onto BIG longitudinal beams

I'm building an extended Z-axis. Accordingly I have these monster 300 x 95 longitudinal beams. While the 100+kg weight of each doesn't scare me too much (except when they start to tip over!), I'm concerned about fixing the legs adequately. The problem is the the flanges of the beams are about 15mm thick (1/2") and I'm worried about getting the weld to penetrate deep enough with a small 140A inverter and 6013 rods.

1. Is my only solution to pre-build the leg structure and then have someone with a big welding machine come and attach the legs to the beams?

2. Any suggestions on different strategies for fixing the rails on? I anticipate that drilling these beastly beams might just take tooo long.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 00:08
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
The strength of those welds is not important, IF you are using the diagonal bracing to the bottom ends of the legs.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 00:53
KenC
Just call me: Ken
 
Klang
Malaysia
If you still worry, sizedown your material thickness.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 01:39
Surfcnc
Just call me: Ross #74
 
Queensland
Australia
Red

Preheat the steel with a map gas burner - they are cheap, very useful for many other jobs and really really hot.

Regards
Ross
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 08:02
Mountaincraft
Just call me: Mark
 
Shingletown, Ca.
United States of America
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfcnc View Post
Red

Preheat the steel with a map gas burner - they are cheap, very useful for many other jobs and really really hot.

Regards
Ross
Hey that's a great tip! I have several of those laying around..
Thanks!

I was wondering if I should pay to have my stuff welded, seeing as I only have a weld pak 100 mig (Well I do have a stinger if a certain neighbor would ever return it)... So, between beveling the attachment surfaces and heating it, I'll probably be okay then... seeing as I live in snow country, and plan on using some of that 'snowed in' time to work on this thing, the heating idea is that much more relevant..

I had never even heard of or thought of that, but it makes a ton of sense...
Thanks again for the tip,
Mark
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 12:45
Leko
Just call me: Leko
 
Kaukapakapa
New Zealand
Weld on a thinner plate and bolt them together.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 20:28
Red_boards
Just call me: Red #91
 
Melbourne
Australia
Thanks for the tip Ross, never knew about pre-heating.
Thanks for the reassurance, Gerald. It just worried me that the weld might let go with all the movement of the cars on the table if the weld didn't penetrate deep enough (I guess the big chunk of steel simply conducts heat away too quickly for the weld to penetrate? Hence the value of pre-heating the area). By the way, my longitudinal bracing is as in the plans, but I'm planning for the ends of the table to have 2 horizontal box beams with diagonal supports between them and bolting to the legs, rather than follow th plans exactly.

Leco, bolting is an option. I'll be drilling some holes in the beams this weekend, so will know what I'm in for drilling 1/2" steel. If it's crazy, then I may have to follow Ken's option.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old Thu 02 September 2010, 20:50
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
Red, a quick test will tell you if you are getting penetration - take some scrap and check.

Anyway, multiple pass welding will always work - lay 3 beads with a thinner rod rather than trying to do one fat one. Grind the surfaces clean first.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old Mon 22 November 2010, 02:03
Red_boards
Just call me: Red #91
 
Melbourne
Australia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leko View Post
Weld on a thinner plate and bolt them together.
This ended up a good route. Turns out it's not so bad drilling 15mm steel, so the legs now bolt to the beams.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Longitudinal beam options for 350mm Z-axis Red_boards 10. Base Table 8 Mon 22 November 2010 06:38
Problem with Main Longitudinal Beam gixi 10. Base Table 32 Thu 19 November 2009 14:23
Welding Table Legs - Othello, USA weldnh20 Construction started, but not cutting yet 23 Sun 25 October 2009 18:13
Legs - their purpose and sizing (Can legs be bolted......?) Gerald D 10. Base Table 0 Mon 20 April 2009 23:50
Why the gap between the support/spoil board and beams? dmoore 10. Base Table 0 Wed 30 April 2008 11:51


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:31.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.