Advice needed on moving a 1440 lathe with a crane.

[Sticks]

Taking delivery of my new PM 1440TL lathe next week.

I have to pick it up 20' in the air, swing it over a trailer, set on a rough terrain forklift, then insert into side doors of a trailer.

The manual is less than helpful with their crane moving instruction and I am a lot nervous doing a single point pick on a 2 ton $19k piece off equipment.

Suggestions and more specific info on where the pick is on the bedway.

Form the manual;

 

[MyLilMule]

If it's a new lathe, it's going to be in a crate, no?

 

[John O]

From my Jet 1440

 

[GeneT45]

From my Jet 1440

From OP's pic it doesn't look like he has those holes (which is too bad, they're also helpful for getting on and off skates).

A call or email to PM might be the best way to go.

GsT

 

[Sticks]

If it's a new lathe, it's going to be in a crate, no?

Yes in a crate, but will be inserted into trailer (my mobile machine shop). Has to be stripped of packaging before it gets set on the forklift. Ideally I would move the trailer to gain access to the 12' side door, but that is not feasible at this time. Have to uncrate, lift with crane on the east side of trailer, lower to the forklift on the west.

From OP's pic it doesn't look like he has those holes (which is too bad, they're also helpful for getting on and off skates).

A call or email to PM might be the best way to go.

GsT

Already sent PM an inquiry. Hoping someone here has been there, done that with a crane.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I made an inverted T plate to go under the ways of my Clausing and lifted it without issue.

It looked like a Tnut about a foot long with a second plate to clamp it down and balanced it with the tailstock and saddle.

Might not work for every machine but it worked fine for my move.

 

[rabler]

Lathes are top heavy, so you need to lift from something up high or you risk it rotating in your sling. The bed cross webs are often the best point to accomplish this. The challenge is left/right balance, so you have to find the best web, and then typically adjust the carriage and tailstock position to the far right to fine tune that balance. That appears to be what the manual is showing. Then make sure the tailstock and carriage are locked!

You can run two slings to two webs to distribute the weight, but beware that you need to avoid angling those slings too far from vertical as that increases the load on the slings and bed webs and at too wide of an angle exceeds the load on a single sling and bed web.

I don't blame you for wanting to confirm with PM on a new lathe. Too many stories on this board of lathes old and new dropped/tipped in this type of operation. And it is enough weight to seriously injure someone. Ideally you'd get someone that has experience hoisting machinery to operate the crane and help rig the lathe. Not matter how it's rigged, a 2nd person with a guide rope to prevent spinning is helpful.

 

[tq60]

Your crane, or for hire?

If for hire, they should have rigging, if you get proper instructions from PM, hand them to the operator, get out of the way and observe.

DO NOT HELP!

They should be insured and your help could void that.

Ne more concerned about your moves, be sure to place wood on your forks to prevent slippage and tie or secure to avoid tipping

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[Sticks]

I'm running the crane. I am one of the 3 operators on this jobsite, and the most experienced. Like I said, don't like single point picks on heavy stuff. Especially long awkward things.

I have enough stick to lift it 97' if I wanted, and 65' out from the center pin +/- at 4k# What I don't have is 4 equal length slings to lift from the 4 corners on the base. Only have pairs of 20' and 30' 21k and 14k.

If the norm is lifting from the web between the ways, then I'll use the 2 20' in a choker with softners and a 2 foot spacing. Balance point looks to be 1/3 up the ways from the headstock. Hopefully straddle the carriage.

 

[Pevehouse]

I'm running the crane. I am one of the 3 operators on this jobsite, and the most experienced. Like I said, don't like single point picks on heavy stuff. Especially long awkward things.

I have enough stick to lift it 97' if I wanted, and 65' out from the center pin +/- at 4k# What I don't have is 4 equal length slings to lift from the 4 corners on the base. Only have pairs of 20' and 30' 21k and 14k.

If the norm is lifting from the web between the ways, then I'll use the 2 20' in a choker with softners and a 2 foot spacing. Balance point looks to be 1/3 up the ways from the headstock. Hopefully straddle the carriage.

Good luck on the move. Been there done that but with a lighter machine and without a crane. Still nerve racking nonetheless