Space to install PM-1340GT lathe and PM 9x35 Knee mill

Kamloopsendo said:

Fair comment Bob, I have placed the mill (in theory at this point) at a end of a wall which is open to a fairly large area as I thought the mill was more likely to tie up space to accomodate work pieces. I do have some limitations within the shop as is and where I've tentatively positioned it is about the best spot in the shop and I'm going to have to move a number of things to accomodate it as it is.

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There are always compromises in how you arrange a shop. I was merely trying to press the point that a good bit of careful forethought can help in finding the best compromises, and it sounds like you understand that pretty well.

Well, I got some basic dimensions from Matt so I have a better appreciation of the space required and it looks like the wall I've in mind will work with minor modifications. Thanks for the thoughts from each of you - a great help in clarifying my thought process.
Alex

Most of us fail to think about flexible electrical hook ups. In other words don't let the electrical limit location of machines if your a 1st timer.One does not know their need.s till used for the jobs at hand. Arrange/rearrange don't let location limit as you gain experience.

That is a good point about the power as I have 220 outlets in a number of locations. However not exactly where I want so I'm running in a service for this so can put it anywhere that the layout works, access to power is honestly the least of my concerns and I plan to have a bit of extra on the cable run to facilitate minor relocations or change of plan at any rate. The plan is to pull cable for both the mill and lathe and leave a length of cable so when the mill arrives next spring I have still considerable latitude there as well.
Alex

When I moved my shop into the basement, I had the same set of debates about mill placement.
in the end, I opted for putting the mill in the open

I caught this exchange between my PM mill and my old POS lathe the day before I picked up my PM1340GT...


Not a week goes by that I am not grateful I put the mill out in the open rather than against the wall or in a corner. It was a really good choice even though it limits room in the shop. Being able to get at all sides of a mill is really a good idea, especially if you plan to do fussy stuff in hard to view areas.

Another mistake I almost made was putting both machines on the same breaker. At the time, I didn't think I would be running both the mill and lathe simultaneously. Turns out I actually do this a lot.

joshua43214 said:

When I moved my shop into the basement, I had the same set of debates about mill placement.
in the end, I opted for putting the mill in the open

I caught this exchange between my PM mill and my old POS lathe the day before I picked up my PM1340GT...

Not a week goes by that I am not grateful I put the mill out in the open rather than against the wall or in a corner. It was a really good choice even though it limits room in the shop. Being able to get at all sides of a mill is really a good idea, especially if you plan to do fussy stuff in hard to view areas.

Another mistake I almost made was putting both machines on the same breaker. At the time, I didn't think I would be running both the mill and lathe simultaneously. Turns out I actually do this a lot.

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As it turns out given the dimensions the mill will have a wall behind 1/2 of it (looking at the mill, to it's right and directly behind there will be a wall behind it) I don't have a lot of choice. When we built I did set aside a room specifically for the lathe and mill but they're in the basement a floor below my main shop (actually in my wood working area but sealed off from it) and while I have room down there I don't relish the idea of being in a closed room with no windows and having to run up and down a flight of stairs between the two shops. Hence, I've decided to move things around a bit in my main floor shop and I can get the mill and lathe in nicely - a better compromise than the stairs and a basement room I think. Good point about the breaker, mine will be on separate feeds at any rate but I had at one point considered a single breaker.
Alex

Kamloopsendo said:

As it turns out given the dimensions the mill will have a wall behind 1/2 of it (looking at the mill, to it's right and directly behind there will be a wall behind it) I don't have a lot of choice. When we built I did set aside a room specifically for the lathe and mill but they're in the basement a floor below my main shop (actually in my wood working area but sealed off from it) and while I have room down there I don't relish the idea of being in a closed room with no windows and having to run up and down a flight of stairs between the two shops. Hence, I've decided to move things around a bit in my main floor shop and I can get the mill and lathe in nicely - a better compromise than the stairs and a basement room I think. Good point about the breaker, mine will be on separate feeds at any rate but I had at one point considered a single breaker.
Alex

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Sounds like a good plan. Having the bench, mill and lathe all a few steps apart is a real plus.
I purchased my house over 20 years ago because it has a building that looks like a 2 car garage but is actually zoned for light industry. I have my woodshop in it (At the time I was married and was pursuing full time furniture making).
The idea of mixing a wood shop and a machine shop just give me the creeps. I know lots of folks do it, just not for me.
The woodshop has it's own 200amp circuit, and I run the metal shop from a 60amp sub panel.
I had the metal shop in a first floor bedroom at first, worked pretty well with the 11" lathe and the little mill. Replacing the mill caused the move, it was either get the PM-450G bed mill (Taiwan), or another Chinese knee mill (probably also PM). I really wanted a knee mill, but they are too tall for my basement. So it was either the bed mill or combine the wood and metal shops.
It has worked out pretty well so far, I don't have problems with chips migrating into the laundry area and the like. The stairs land at the garage where I keep my 12" horizontal bandsaw and oxy/acetylene rig. The wood shop is just a few step farther out back where my welder is, and behind that is a space reserved for a crucible furnace. Only thing I don't have space for is a surface grinder unless I make some large changes elsewhere.