Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
INSTALLING THE MILLING MACHINE
Bench or stand mounting
Hopefully, the milling machine you buy will come with its own maker's stand
or even an integral base. A milling machine is a heavy item, so please ensure
that any stand you buy or make for it is up to the task. Also, if putting the
milling machine into a wooden shed, do make sure the floor is strong enough
to take the weight. If in doubt, a thick sheet of MDF can be laid on the floor
where the milling machine is going to stand. It is a good idea to cover the en-
tire floor of the workshop with MDF anyway. It is easy to keep clean, and it will
help distribute the weight and keep out the cold in winter.
Fig. 2.12. An engine hoist will be found useful for lifting heavy parts to strip down and/
or reassemble a milling machine.
If you are mounting the milling machine on a workbench, pay particular at-
tention to the distribution of weight because a lot of workbenches have L-
shaped legs made from thin sheet metal or angle iron and are liable to dam-
age the floor. If in doubt about the weight loading onto the workbench legs,
put some pieces of steel plate under the legs before mounting the milling ma-
chine onto the bench.
