I’m writing to ask about installation of a 770 MX in a college laboratory space with standard 79” doors. We’d really like to purchase the 770 MX for our fabrication/prototyping facility for our engineering students but I’m concerned that we’ll have difficulty moving it through the hallway and into our lab space on a pallet jack. As I read the footprint documents, the top of the mill is 77” when on the pallet (we’d clearly have to unbox outside the building, leaving it on the pallet). Has anyone any experience guilding a 770MX through a standard doorway?
I’m sure we’d be ok with the PCNC 440, which is easily small enough, but I really like the 770MX specs.
How far do you have to go after going through the door? You could remove it from the pallet outside the door and move it by itself on a narrow pallet jack or more primitive methods if needed.
Primitive methods with a 1500lb mill are a bit scary
Seriously though the exterior doors through which we will have to move it are probably 100 feet from the interior door of the lab space. Both those doorways are 79” tall. We have a slightly taller (82.5”) external door that we can go through, but accessing it is challenging because of a fairly treacherous ramp designed not for loads but wheelchair access (so it’s not an even grade).
The main question is whether it is possible to lift the pallet by only a about an inch or so - and that’s my experience with some loads but I’ve never had to move something where the vertical clearance is likely to be so tight. As long as an inch or at most an inch and a half is possible, then we’ll be fine. Just don’t want to have something like this go sideways because there’s just a hair too little clearance.
@Todd_Pedlar This is a do-able plan and many before you have done similar. The way I would approach this is to plan to pull the box off of the machine crate when it arrives. If the ground is flat and you have a sturdy pallet jack then you can move it around only an inch off the floor. I like to keep the machine real close to the ground when moving them anyways. If you can’t get the clearance right on the pallet you can pop the machine off and move it around without the pallet, using a pallet jack. You will want a standard width pallet jack and you will pick it from the side. If you screw the feet most of the way in then you can get the machine much closer to 75” tall for moving. You will then need to screw the feet back out to fit the coolant tank under.
2 notes:
You might have to squish the energy chain to fit through the door, but it is bendable.
On @Roy’s note, that works for the 770M and gen1 770MX. The new 770MX stand won’t fit a skinny pallet jack from the front without dunage in between.
if you are truly nervous about this prospect then you can get the un-assembled 770MX and put it together in the lab.
Davie’s last comment was going to be my first, order the machine un-assembled and put it together once it arrives. That completely eliminates the concern over height.
Assembly is not that difficult, I did my 1100 by myself in two relatively relaxed days and had no previous experience. Most of that time could have been saved with a helper or two, and a power screwdriver to speed up the enclosure assembly, but I was kind of enjoying the build anyway, sorta like the most expensive lego kit ever.
I think there is a on-site assembly option from Tormach if you don’t want to have to deal with it on your own. If not, myself, and I’m sure others can certainly help depending on your location.
Thanks Davie, for this reply. We’ll want to move it on our standard jack on the pallet until we are right in front of the external door. There, the concrete is perfectly level. At that point we could in principle do the adjustments you’re talking about. At that door, we should have no trouble getting the top at 79” or a bit lower with a standard 1” clearance from the floor… or we can take it off the pallet and lift it (as I’ve seen in a video somewhere). I assume we wouldn’t be transporting it with the legs on, anyway, but would put them on only in the lab space we’re intending for it.
Thanks, Ian - I think we’re actually ok with the factory assembly option. I might enjoy putting it together myself (or let our facilities crew deal with it) but I’m thinking that I was overblowing height concerns. I actually think it should work out fine as I remarked in my reply to Davie.
They are pretty easy to move. Blocks of wood and a pallet jack is my method. Plywood and steel pipe work. Egyptian style. Air dolly. Skates. Simple tools.
LOL! Yes, if that worked with the tolerances I have, that would be fun (and instructive to undergrads hanging around while the mill is being moved into place)!
Yea but if you assemble it you have to lift the really heavy part onto the heavy part. It works if you have a forklift or a crane but those also don’t fit through doors. Chain hoist works too. It’s also good for handcuffing employees too.
