Re: Bridgeport Questions **JOHN.... PLEASE READ**

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:

> alan_hantke@i... wrote:
>
> > Hi John:
> > I felt that I had to make a comment about using a liftgate to

move a mill.

> > I have the greatest respect for Jon Elson, but in this case I

wanted to add

> > to his suggestion. In a word, be *very* careful! These are

considerations

> > you should review:
>
> <snip>
>
> Well, the local truck rental outfits here must have a better class
> of lift-gate trucks than in Alan's area. Definitely make sure the

lift

> gate is capable of handling your machine, and then some.
>
> The one I rented was rated for 5000 Lbs, and it was so stiff and

robust

> that the gate didn't react at all when the Bridgeport was slid out

onto

> the gate!

John,
May I add some points from someone in the UK who does this as part of
his living?

Firstly forget the tail gate idea full stop. Here in the UK the vast
majority of tailgates are only good for 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000 lbs
which is below the weight of a Bridgy. Also as someone has pointed
out they do lean backwards and the controls are usually electric
solinoid valves - not an easy way to regulate a load.

Wreckers are also out. Here in the UK we tend to have very
specialised vehicles on this job. Smaller ones are just spectacle
frame lifts. Medium sized ones are the tye with the tilting and
sliding back. Not a good choice with a top heavy machine like a
turret mill. Large wreckers usually have twin hydraulic winches and a
very heavy duty lifting beam that fastens to the front axle of the
broken down truck. Boom wreckers are very rare here.

But the good news is the UK has loads and loads of Hiab crane equiped
vehicles. Virtually every builders merchants has a truck with one on.
I live on the edge of a small industrial estate and there are at
least 15 such vehicles in less than a square mile near me. Look for a
smaller operation as they are usually more flexable. The size matters
and you will need a 7 ton Hiab. This is because they are always
measured at 1 metre radius so a 7 ton machine will be 3 ton at about
3 metres and 1 ton at 5 metres.
The smaller Hiabs are rated at about 3 ton and go up to about 80 ton,
remember this is all at 1 metre radius.
Hiabs are far superior to fork lifts because with a Hiab the load is
hanging and short of a sling snapping it can't go anywhere. With a
fork truck it can always tilt and fall or slide off the forks.
Last point if you are lifting on the eye supplied with a Bridgy
remove the eye and check the threads in the ram and on the eye bolt.
I have had it where someone has cut the threads short on the bolt and
it's only been screwed in a couple of threads.

PS. If anyone is interested in my credentials go to
http://www.bystronic.com and look at the big Bystar laser cutters.
These come from Switzerland on three full size 42 ton artic loads and
we get 3 days to assemble them.

John Stevenson.