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Thread: Lifting HM50 mill by the bed
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23rd Mar 2018, 08:53 AM #1Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2017
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 27
Lifting HM50 mill by the bed
Im planning on brining home my new mill a hafco HM50 next week and trying to work out how to get it off the trailer.
The crane I used for my lathe and previous mill won't lift high enough to sling the mill off the trailer, once its off the trailer I will have no issue moving it wiht other the crane or Pallet jack.
I was thinking if I could make a lift plate and bolt it to the bed. (maybe take the head off the mill to make it less top heavy and lighter)
However I can see that its a loading the the machine really isn't designed for. I was thinking of running second straps from the bed under the base of the machine in a futile attempt to distribute the load.
I have seen heaps of mills lifted by the bed with fork lift, but I know its the wrong way to lift one.
Recommendations? my last resort is to go down to the loan hire place and fork out for a small gantry for the day.
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23rd Mar 2018, 10:02 AM #2Member
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Cockatoo Vic
- Posts
- 84
When moving my HM50, (away from Geelong in my case) I removed the whole top. Parting at the top of the column.
Had no choice because unloading position had no head room for lifting off the trailer.
Required separating some wiring. But not difficult at all
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23rd Mar 2018, 10:16 AM #3Intermediate Member
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- Apr 2017
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- Geelong
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- 27
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23rd Mar 2018, 12:35 PM #4Member
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Cockatoo Vic
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- 84
While writing the above post I was trying to remember that. Afraid it is gone. The old brain leaks a bit.
I do remember I also had to remove the bed as well, so as to get it all through a standard size door.
That may have made a difference in how I lifted the base and column.
EDIT:
On thinking about it I most likely made some temporary lift point that bolted to the top of the column.
Although I can't remember, that is the type of thing I would typically do.
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23rd Mar 2018, 05:37 PM #5Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- Kyabram. Vic
- Posts
- 632
With the HM50 is there not a round hole on either of the the column for a lifting bar to go through. The HM50 I had had this . The holes were covered by a very thin swivel plate.
Be careful with too much weight on the ram as it is (or mine was) very soft cast and prone to cracking. This would include swiveling the head.
Ken
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23rd Mar 2018, 08:52 PM #6Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2017
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 27
Hey Ken,
Thanks for the input. When you say swiveling the head what exactly do you mean? what is the situation I should avoid?
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23rd Mar 2018, 09:52 PM #7Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- Kyabram. Vic
- Posts
- 632
The head is clamped onto the end of the ram by several pinch bolts. There is a square (I think) stud on the side of the ram/or head that is a worm gear to swivel the head over to 90 degrees. My unit had a lot of play in this worm and gear which would allow the head to flop over when passed the point of balance. When lifting the head back to vertical you need to physically lift the heavy head whilst operating the the worm gear. Need 3 arms . It appears that the worm apparatus is too lightweight for the head. After use my mill displayed a crack in the casting in this area; out of warranty of course. Luckily I was able to plate the area as a fix.
Ken
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23rd Mar 2018, 11:06 PM #8Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2006
- Location
- Australind , WA
- Age
- 58
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- 1,277
Got access to a Forklift?
I think that would make me more comfortable, moving a HM50.
Got the access to get a forklift in?
Steve
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24th Mar 2018, 12:00 AM #9Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2013
- Location
- Laidley, SE Qld
- Posts
- 1,038
Hafco will give you a price to deliver and unload your mill, weigh that against the costs and possible poor consequences of doing it yourself.
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24th Mar 2018, 08:40 AM #10Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2017
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 27
Thanks for the input everyone.
The caution of various members has lead me to decide to rent a gantry for the day to unload.
I will remove the ram and fit a lifting plate to the top of the coloum.
once its on the ground we will shuffle it with a pallet jack.
As an aside. Should i bring the table right up to the quill (with a wooden block in between) to support the head for the drive home? or any other recommendations for transporting a mill?
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24th Mar 2018, 09:05 AM #11Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- Melbourne
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- 4,779
Hi there,
for transport, lowering the C of G as much as possible would be best. I would lower the table to it's lowest point. As others have said, you can also swivel the head so that it's upside down so that the motor is much lower.
Also, you can adjust the ram by sliding it in or out so that it is reasonably balanced as well.
When you look at how these things are made and the cutting forces they are designed to withstand, the occasional bump on the road while on a trailer with suspension will not hurt them. In any case, once you run some straps over it including the table, it will not jump or bounce anyway.
Edit: I just re-read you post. You're removing the head so no need to tilt the head on the ram. You confused me when you asked if you should bring the table up to the quill. It won't have the quill fitted!
I would still lower the knee (table) to it's lowest point. With the ram and head removed, you will have no issues with S of G. It will be very stable.
Cheers,
SimonGirl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.
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24th Mar 2018, 09:39 AM #12Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2017
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 27
Sorry for the confusion.
I was going to remove the ram when I got home, but transport it with it fitted.
I will take tools with me too remove it if I need to when i see how it feels
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24th Mar 2018, 10:45 AM #13Member
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Oakleigh, Victoria
- Posts
- 55
I had a similar problem and took the wheels off my trailer to get it low enough to use an engine crane.
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26th Mar 2018, 08:13 AM #14
I moved the HM52 a few years back and had the same problem. I have a gantry but needed to unload in the shed with an engine crane.
I removed the Allen head bolts for the swivel plate on top of the column and removed the complete ram and head with it.
I took the switch off the head and wrote down the wiring connections wihen I disconnected the motor.
I then wound the table back, used 2x long slings under the base in the forklift slots. There is no way they will slip out of there.
I reversed the trailer in, lifted it 50mm and then removed the trailer.
I have the thicker 2 ton version of engine crane.Using Tapatalk
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