bombtech
Member
Hey folks. I don't add much content to this site. After reading everything I could on the HAMB and only contributing financially and then mooching what I could from GJ when I needed it, I figured I would put up something that might help another member.
I was designing a part for work and someplace between bar napkin sketch and prototype I realized how much easier projects like this would be if I had a proper table to do it on. Big enough, level, square, with plenty of clamp space and shelf room for my go-to tools. I am not a full time welder or fabricator by any means. That said, I build plenty of things for work that augment our robots. Some success, some failure, but rewarding all in all. So far I was welding on the standard 2x3 1/8 plate and angle iron table popular on numerous websites as a first project.
So I snapped some pictures along the way and will comment very honestly on my rookie build.
My plan was to do something like this because space was limited in my shop which is basically an oversized 2 car garage.
I had a big heavy pile of 3x3x1/4" square tube from a past Craigslist purchase. Overkill, but cheap. I purchased a 3/8" 4x4 plate from the local metal supply. The guy there is very cool and let me get very involved in the drawing and cutting. Total cost for the table top was $280. I consulted Miller customer service and got dimensions on the Arc Station tops they sell. I bought two Miller clamps for around $70 from Cyberweld to make sure they are what I wanted. They work great. Miller emailed me a sketch of the Arc Sta cuts.
Those measurements are 1 1/2" x 1 1/4" x 3/4" x 10".
So we drew up my table on Mastercam with those specs. I kept the edges of the clamp cuts just inside the ID of the 3x3 top frame, leaving clamping overhang as well on the edges. Radius corners were added as well. I kept 10" space between the center cross section to allow clamps to reach each other.
Next we imported the drawing to the table.
The table burns with propane, oxygen and acetylene (?). This thing had some miles on it but worked well. Here are a few images.
Ready for some grinder clean up.
Once I got home I noted the heat twisted the top slightly. I'm going to do my best to counter the wave with more heat later. Now on to the frame. I am using Footmaster casters and receiver hitch tube attached accessories for a bench grinder, my chop saw (love my Evo), and my big Wilton vice.
I worked on the frame a bit. Building a base for a table that you want to be plumb is a PITA on a floor that ain't. It makes me appreciate the value this table will offer in the future as a true, flat work area. I used the new table top as much as possible on the floor for the frame build so far. Knees and back are aching.
More to follow...
I was designing a part for work and someplace between bar napkin sketch and prototype I realized how much easier projects like this would be if I had a proper table to do it on. Big enough, level, square, with plenty of clamp space and shelf room for my go-to tools. I am not a full time welder or fabricator by any means. That said, I build plenty of things for work that augment our robots. Some success, some failure, but rewarding all in all. So far I was welding on the standard 2x3 1/8 plate and angle iron table popular on numerous websites as a first project.
So I snapped some pictures along the way and will comment very honestly on my rookie build.
My plan was to do something like this because space was limited in my shop which is basically an oversized 2 car garage.
I had a big heavy pile of 3x3x1/4" square tube from a past Craigslist purchase. Overkill, but cheap. I purchased a 3/8" 4x4 plate from the local metal supply. The guy there is very cool and let me get very involved in the drawing and cutting. Total cost for the table top was $280. I consulted Miller customer service and got dimensions on the Arc Station tops they sell. I bought two Miller clamps for around $70 from Cyberweld to make sure they are what I wanted. They work great. Miller emailed me a sketch of the Arc Sta cuts.
Those measurements are 1 1/2" x 1 1/4" x 3/4" x 10".
So we drew up my table on Mastercam with those specs. I kept the edges of the clamp cuts just inside the ID of the 3x3 top frame, leaving clamping overhang as well on the edges. Radius corners were added as well. I kept 10" space between the center cross section to allow clamps to reach each other.
Next we imported the drawing to the table.
The table burns with propane, oxygen and acetylene (?). This thing had some miles on it but worked well. Here are a few images.
Ready for some grinder clean up.
Once I got home I noted the heat twisted the top slightly. I'm going to do my best to counter the wave with more heat later. Now on to the frame. I am using Footmaster casters and receiver hitch tube attached accessories for a bench grinder, my chop saw (love my Evo), and my big Wilton vice.
I worked on the frame a bit. Building a base for a table that you want to be plumb is a PITA on a floor that ain't. It makes me appreciate the value this table will offer in the future as a true, flat work area. I used the new table top as much as possible on the floor for the frame build so far. Knees and back are aching.
More to follow...
Last edited:
