Above 1200 Sq/FT LilScorpion’s Fab Space

[lilscorpion]

Any updates?

Been busy as hell. Bunch of business trips and in between we took out daughter on half a dozen college visits. Still made a little progress on the powder coating oven carts. There’s two parts to the assembly - the runner and the oven cart. The oven cart is what rolls into the oven with parts on it. It has high temp casters and uprights that have holes for hooks. Remove rails for bigger parts or use them all for many more smaller parts. Below only shows one side.



The runner is how I’ll move the parts rack around the shop and what enables the parts rack to load into the oven. The runner has troughs on it to keep the parts rack lined up correctly and will mate up to a similar rack that will be bolted to the floor of the oven.



Starter with the frame of the runner.



Rails were cut to length and fixtures up for welding.



The runner has what’s kinda like a headache rack on a truck that will serve as a stop for the parts rack. I welded these up separately in the same fixture.



The runner will have 6 casters per assembly with the center rigid and corners swivel configuration. To keep things easy, all of the mounts are the same.



A simple bracket



that will weld in place with minimal setup.



The fixture table makes tasks like this easy. Stops can be set up to ensure level and positioning. Makes the measure 3x, weld once much easier and more accurate.



Next step is to attach the head ache rack.

 

[lilscorpion]

Brackets were cut on the table and bent. The frame will receive rivnuts so the bracket and head ache rack will be removable enabling customizations in the future when parts need different rigging.



Shimming is necessary to account for the head height of the rivnuts.



Then it’s just drilling a bunch of holes.



Then getting the handle mount nicked up.



Centering is all that’s needed.



Now to shift focus to the parts rack.



The base is another rectangle.



With caster mounts for the high temp caster wheels that will run in the house rails.



Then welded to the chassis.



Four corners for this one.



These wheels are SMOOTH. They have greased high temp bearings so the cart should glide nicely between the runner and the oven.

 

[lilscorpion]

While the fixtures are set up, each step is repeated exactly twice.



Back to the runner. The parts rack will be a tight fit in the oven and I want the transfer to be graceful and quick so I don’t have to leave the door of the oven open very long. To accomplish this the runner will have tracks that will guide the caster on the parts rack.



A pair mocked up.



Was getting late but wanted to give it a test fit and see the progress. Notice the extra space off the end of the rails. This is needed to span the gap of the lower frame of the oven.



Glides nicely.



Should be able to button them up by the end of the weekend.

 

[larry4406]

Nice fab as usual.

Will you need to have ramp to get from the concrete floor up to the raised floor of the oven? Or am I missing something?

 

[LXCam]

Bout time you got us updated, we were jonesing man

Btw, ya damn enabler. Because of you I got number one to try out.

I haven’t had a chance to run it yet but I must say I’m impressed. That’s a stout little unit for $40 and after looking it over certainly understand why it’d make sense to have a few of them dialed in for a certain finish then just grab and go.

I did have a question for you though. Did you change out the cutter machine screws for something of better quality or has that not been an issue?

Thanks, Cam

 

[lilscorpion]

Nice fab as usual.

Will you need to have ramp to get from the concrete floor up to the raised floor of the oven? Or am I missing something?

The bottom (runner) cart elevates the top (parts) cart to the same height as the inside of the oven so it can just roll in, no ramp necessary. The top cart will more or less live on the bottom cart when outside of the oven.

The bottom cart can and will be powder coated and be nice because it will always be outside the oven. The top cart will have parts that are being coated in the booth and then go into the oven with the parts when they cure. As a result, the top cart will end up fairly ugly as it will get layer upon layer of all colors and kinda of powder. It’s more or less sacrificial.

Bout time you got us updated, we were jonesing man

Btw, ya damn enabler. Because of you I got number one to try out.

I haven’t had a chance to run it yet but I must say I’m impressed. That’s a stout little unit for $40 and after looking it over certainly understand why it’d make sense to have a few of them dialed in for a certain finish then just grab and go.

I did have a question for you though. Did you change out the cutter machine screws for something of better quality or has that not been an issue?

Thanks, Cam

You’re welcome!

Yeah, setting depth isn’t tough but it’s not fast and easy either. The man reason I decided to get two was because of the curf on plasma cut parts. If I want the same bevel on both sides I needed to make an adjustment each time I switched sides. Even batching parts (chamfering all of them on the top, then adjust and chafer all on the bottom) felt too stupid to do even a couple times. The $40 for another one was a easy conclusion to get to.

I have not swapped anything out, just running as is. The screws are mini-guys and I can see losing them or stripping them. In thinking about it, if I do either at some point it may just make sense to buy a new tool. Will have to see how it goes.

 

[lilscorpion]

Worked out the rails, final length and width. Can’t weld the bolts in place until I know how long they need to be.



Ones almost completely done. Second one like it half way…

 

[Grant Gunderson]

How are you attaching the top cart to the bottom cart when moving it around the shop? Pins?

 

[rattle_snake]

Is the PC parts cart and base going to be motorized so they drive in and out of oven on there own? Seems well within your capabilities.

 

[KwikFab]

@lilscorpion Been away from the forum a bit, come back to see you killing it in the shop like always!

Just picked up a Titan myself so I hope to be putting it to use as much as you have.

 

[lilscorpion]

How are you attaching the top cart to the bottom cart when moving it around the shop? Pins?

Right not it isn’t, just using a welding coamp
To keep it on the runner cart. Planning to make a spring clamp that can be released with a foot petal.

Is the PC parts cart and base going to be motorized so they drive in and out of oven on there own? Seems well within your capabilities.

Hm. Could be. Maybe make it remote controlled so I can do it from work. Would bring max braggin rights me thinks

@lilscorpion Been away from the forum a bit, come back to see you killing it in the shop like always!

Just picked up a Titan myself so I hope to be putting it to use as much as you have.

Nice, you’re gonna love it. Changes the game big time.

 

[lilscorpion]

Didn’t get a ton done today. Got the oven placed. Had to block it to get it off the skates.



Realized that I’d need way more blocks so I cut the long one into 12” sections. Took three to get it high enough to install the feet.



Lined up the rack to see how much it needs to be lifted. Answer, 1.625”.



This is gonna work slick. Fits perfectly.



also, been getting everything cut for the powder coating booth. Almost ready to start in on it.

 

[bugnut]

Awesome, just fricking awesome!

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Looks better than most production powder coat setups!

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

What an amazing setup you are building. You could sell these at this rate.