Just received my first mill - to unload from pallet I need to remove x axis table - how is that done? PM833VT

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Lensmith701

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Everyone will see I have a ways to go as an apprentice machinist with no machinist to guide me. Followed book to unload machine from the pallet. Machine was sitting on a small pallet on a larger pallet so it is pretty high. Book suggest mill is delivered one package on its stand - well it came on two pallets. I get everything hooked up and lift her in the air nd begin to lower after pulling pallets and it dawns on me - x table will not clear As I lower mill to floor. Searched for a post already but did not find it if it’s there. Does someone have a cliff notes version of the steps to safely and without damaging things - remove the x axis table? Studying the parts breakdown...D306F7C4-64D8-424B-BD64-7013271C04C8.jpeg
 
Pull the pallets out crib the machine, so you can pull the cribbing out from under the hoist. Once you have the stand located roll the hoist, remove the cribbing on the machine, and mount it on it's stand. Would that work for you?
Put 4x4s across the legs, or the pallet it's on?
 
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Not the best idea to remove the table.

Your cribbing looks very good, and that is to be commended! You are sure to not get any slip that way.

Aukai has a good idea, but perhaps a little more explanation is needed... Think backwards, as if you are taking the mill off the stand, in order to think through the clearances and heights you will need to do the job. Sometimes things can be done in a single step, and other times it needs a lot of steps to get there... When we took the 3000+lb lathe out of the basement there were hundreds of steps!

I'm thinking that you need to get rid of the pallets so you can put your crane on the floor in order to move, position and lift the mill onto the base. but your crane will interfere with the milling table, so here goes:

Aukai is suggesting that you lift the mill up enough to remove all the pallets and then CRIB the mill up: Cribbing is when you put two (for instance) 2X4s parallel then two more 90 degrees on top, etc. The stack has to fit just under the mill but be narrower than the engine hoist. Why cribbing? So it is high enough to not interfere with the engine hoist... there's no need to connect the layers of cribbing... Here's a short video on cribbing which says more than I can here:


FYI I use 2X4s and 1X4s for my cribbing all the time and they do a very good job.

You let the mill down onto the cribbing, and then break it all down, and get the engine hoist onto the floor.

Lift the mill up using a very short choker in order to get the maximal possible lift (eventually - keep it at a minimal height at all times until the final lift) This will allow you to remove all the cribbing. You are then ready to roll your mill over to the stand and lift.
 
Maybe? after you've got the pallets out of the way, you can twist the mill to go between the legs? If not put the mill on some narrower cribbing and get the lift on the floor, extend the lift arm one notch to get more width. Don't remove the table.
 
The top lifting arm on your hoist will extend. I lifted mine without problem with the same type of hoist.
 
thank you all for the feedback. Cribbing would have worked. I need to set this site to tell me when someone posts. Ended up pulling the table off turns out it was simple after looking at parts breakdown. The chore will be putting it back on but cross that bridge when I come to it. Turns out new mill has some minor rust under there I would not otherwise would have seen and I can clean out and degrease stuff. Thank you all and wish me luck.
So people know - to remove x axis table start by removing both handles. Unlock the gib lock on x axis. Remove 4 screws holding handle plate/thrust bearing assembly - 2 on each end. After both ends of x drive screw have all parts out of the way, spend a bunch of time slowly rotating the screw out on the center nut under the table. I found if I supported it with a paper towel in my hand at the edge of table level with where it should be - it turned more freely and came out better. Next time before I remove the bearings off the ends I will move the table to the stop on the side I plan to remove on - then undo handles and bearings and remove the drive screw. Also remember to remove the retainer for the gibs for the table in order to verify zero pressure on the gibs. Slowly slide table off - do not let it scrape, tip, gouge or otherwise damage the ways on table or saddle. Mine was kind of glued on by cosmolene (sea water proof grease for metal) but playing with it loosened her up and off she came. BC3484CB-605B-45F6-9027-78F97B9BBB5F.jpegBC3484CB-605B-45F6-9027-78F97B9BBB5F.jpeg
 
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Any time you move a machine tool it's a memorable event. No damage to life or limb and an undamaged machine is a good memory.

Congratulations!!
 
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