How I Load Steel Plate onto my CNC Plasma Cutting Table

[@lionelchevalier5650]

Bravo, excellent !

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

Thankyou Lionel.

[@jeffwhite6267]

Rusty, i do similar work from my home shed, except my shed is 100+ years old, with a dirt floor. So, no concrete floor. I installed 50x50 angle steel in the centre of the roof, and run wheels along the angle iron to move the steel through my shed. I attached a vevor electric hoist to those wheels, and i can use the remote control to lift the sheet vertically... roll the sheet towards my table, then i raise it up, roll it over the table, and then lower the seet with the vertical lifter, onto the table. The vevor hoist/winch is much better than the manual winch. I tried those magnets, but for me, they're a nightmare. The vevor winch makes it 1 man operation, or my wife helps me by using the remote while i manage the sheet location. Also, you can use the same spreader bar set up, but use 2 vertical grips, instead of the magnets. Id send you a video, but my shed is appalling.

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the suggestion regarding an overhead crane with electric hoist/winch. I have some them and think they'd be a better option than my manual arrangement, but when Mrs Rusty is around to help me, it's definitely easier with 2 of us. Do you run your own business and YT channel??

[@jeffwhite6267]

@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns business, yes... YT, no. I'm not a fan of social media, but sadly, i have to use it to keep the business going

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

What's your business name, or can you provide a link to your business, please. Which part of Australia are you in....I'm in WA, about 1 hour south of Perth.

[@madhouse5213]

It well suited for the job. To make it easier make the handle longer, i just would get tired of lifting plates. Handle would probably get in the way. Maybe a hex bar attached for a drill to winch it? Did think placing the plates on trestles instead of the floor. Thinking its a little higher and less time raising the plates up to the plasma.

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

I've been thinking about some sort of trestle, rather than lowering the sheet all the way to the floor, but it's just one more thing to stow in the shed when not in use....but it is a good idea, so thanks for that.

[@madhouse5213]

@@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns yeah probably get more in the way

[@SegoMan]

Looks like the still er I mean air dryer is in use.. 😄😄 Have you seen this video? It needs roll out trays for the metal and an electric hoist but he has a good system none the less: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHq2c4hqbtVnmLM This video gives you the concept on the tray slide out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKbGg6lnpLaslbc

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

Hey SegoMan, the 'still' is still catching water! Thanks for the links to the other storage and handling systems....I like Wolfgang's racking and overhead crane arrangement; it has a few less manual handling steps than me, too.

[@SegoMan]

@@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns Your welcome Rusty Zombie! Yeah the quicker you can get metal on / off the better the profit margins. You do an hr drawing another 45 min loading / unloading for a 15 min cut job.. Like you mentioned your support column probable would not handle much weight, however you can put a real post next to it and do an overhead bridge crane. When I built my 6' x 12' table I added room for the gantry to park off the table as my my Hypertherm 105 will pierce 1" and edge cut 1-1/2" that is a lot of metal to to slide under a torch without banging things up..

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

I could probably erect a free standing overhead beam/rail, with support columns bolted to the concrete floor. At this stage I'm fine with how I load sheets onto the table, but I could look at updating this in the future.