- Joined
- Sep 28, 2022
- Messages
- 170
I thought I’d show a few pictures of a lifting cradle that I made for a lathe. (In the pictures, this machine was starting on a very long journey – Oklahoma to Alaska.) While this cradle doesn’t work in every situation or machine, it does work on a couple of lathes in my shop which have lifting holes in the base or bed. It’s use could be expanded with some simple modifications. This design allows the machine to be lifted in balance and allows for good control in tight areas. It also allows for the lathe to be set down so that a forklift or gantry can be repositioned without the need for re-rigging. It also provides for pretty good hold down once it is on a trailer.
Here is a picture of a lifting bed clamp I also made. This helps move the center of gravity to above the bed. It also avoids all the delicate feed and control rods on the front of the machine. It is wrapped with Gorilla tape to avoid any scratching plus it keeps it from slipping.
These lifting aids came about when I was making a shop move and needed to move multiple machines in a short amount of time. I had little overhead room for lifting or appropriate sling angles. These aids helped me make the move with no damage to the machines.
Here is a picture of a lifting bed clamp I also made. This helps move the center of gravity to above the bed. It also avoids all the delicate feed and control rods on the front of the machine. It is wrapped with Gorilla tape to avoid any scratching plus it keeps it from slipping.
These lifting aids came about when I was making a shop move and needed to move multiple machines in a short amount of time. I had little overhead room for lifting or appropriate sling angles. These aids helped me make the move with no damage to the machines.
