Built a few more - Cape Town, South Africa - Page 5

Gerald D · #**121** Wed 13 May 2009, 09:15

That extra height is earmarked for a mezzanine one day.....something that will carry the 4x dust collecters, compressor and maybe a 5th MM for smaller jobs.

The un-assembled table, leaning against the wall is the "spare" one that could go upstairs. The bay where it is now will receive the big MM currently in production at the old premises.

Hoists are not being considered - labour is cheap.

The "dual" control boxes house the VFD and reactor for the spindles. Tired of blowing dust out of the current VFD when its speed control goes haywire. Will have to find out if the heat gets dissipated though.

Kobus_Joubert · #**122** Wed 13 May 2009, 22:41

I hope ... I know Sean will now make his millions even quicker with all these machines lined up like that....but he will be a busy man producing all the G-code to keep those spindles moving.....For a man that is just married it must be hell...

Well done and good luck

hennie · #**123** Thu 14 May 2009, 02:40

Nice space to make a lot of noise,the only thing is that with the space one tends to fill it up verry fast,so go for it .Good Luck

PEU · #**124** Thu 14 May 2009, 04:27

Very nice place! Im still looking for a similar place near home with no luck yet...

Felicitaciones !! (congratulations)

zetacnc · #**125** Thu 14 May 2009, 06:14

WOW!

Nice place!

PEU · #**126** Mon 18 May 2009, 14:05

Gerald, some questions on the new space:

can you share the approximate dimensions?

I see no offices space, just a reception place, is this supposed to be just a factory or its going to host offices too?

When in full operation, the space is enough? or the place was decided on other factors too?

Thanks!

Doug_Ford · #**127** Mon 18 May 2009, 19:05

I'm envious as hell.

For several years now, I've been wondering how y'all manage to move those huge sheets of mdf. Moving a 3/4" X 4' X 8' sheet just about kills me. I would think that a hoist would be mandatory. I know you wrote that labor is cheap but who would show up for their second day of work?

domino11 · #**128** Mon 18 May 2009, 19:12

Doug,
What about 1" or 1.25" mdf, do not forget also that Gerald has access to 5' x 9' sheets in Africa. Not those wimpy 4x8s that we use.

My back hurts just thinking about it.

Gerald D · #**129** Mon 18 May 2009, 21:05

Pablo, it is 25m x 10m, the front office room is 4m x 5m. The space was decided by cost, and then it was decided how many machines could fit in there. Wanted 3 big machines minimum. The extra height was a bonus. Sean has 4 guys working for him - one in the office and 3 in the shop. The 3 shop guys handle the big boards as a team.

Heath, our really big boards are 12' x 6' x 1.25", Standard boards are 9' x 6'

hennie · #**130** Mon 18 May 2009, 23:03

It takes 3 guys to carry 1 sheet of mdf 9x6 16 mm thick in my shop.That is for cutting on the panel saw, and me and one for the MM.
Gerald on my side of the country on Monday`s its me and one guy

kaartman · #**131** Tue 19 May 2009, 03:28

http://www.gorillagripper.com/

This subject needed a thread by itself: http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1750

PEU · #**132** Tue 19 May 2009, 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald D

Pablo, it is 25m x 10m, the front office room is 4m x 5m. The space was decided by cost, and then it was decided how many machines could fit in there. Wanted 3 big machines minimum. The extra height was a bonus. Sean has 4 guys working for him - one in the office and 3 in the shop. The 3 shop guys handle the big boards as a team.

Heath, our really big boards are 12' x 6' x 1.25", Standard boards are 9' x 6'

Thanks for the answers G. one more (more may follow

) that 10x25 includes the office space or its just the machines area? Im eyeing a lot that is 8.66x26m and I tought it was small.
Thanks!

Pablo
PS: is there such a thing as: this is a big enough shop?

Gerald D · #**133** Tue 19 May 2009, 09:01

Pablo, here are early sketches of original space and some ideas. Some ideas have changed:

Space.txt

(change the .txt to .dxf)

PEU · #**134** Tue 19 May 2009, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald D

Pablo, here are early sketches of original space and some ideas. Some ideas have changed:

Attachment 4674

(change the .txt to .dxf)

Thank you very much G. I was looking for plans ideas for a long time, your design gives me fresh ideas and validates some I had. Thanks again!

Gerald D · #**135** Tue 19 May 2009, 09:57

Pablo, if you are replying to the most recent post, please do not use the "Quote" button and repeat that whole post again: Using quotes when replying to a post - only use if essential please

Nothing personal against the guys where I am making this comment

cncb · #**136** Wed 20 May 2009, 09:48

Great work Gerald, do you plan on running all four at the same time/all the time? or really is having the 4 so you can dedicate a certain type of project to each one? Ever considering a toolchanger in the future?

Gerald D · #**137** Wed 20 May 2009, 10:00

Four machines may be an overkill in these economic times, but the wheel will turn . . . . .

Toolchangers are not on the horizon.

Gerald D · #**138** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:39

The old shop has been vacated and the new shop is a mess:

Hopkins1.jpg

Hopkins2.jpg

Hopkins3.jpg

Tomorrow, wife and I are off to the north-east corner of the country for about 10 days. Yes, I am running away from Sean and his setup issues!

domino11 · #**139** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:44

Moving is very stressful! Moving a business must be worse. Good luck to Sean on the move and Gerald on his vacation.

Gerald D · #**140** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:44

There are now 6 tables in there:

1. The original ShopBot base, with MechMate moving parts. Back into production and its sale delayed by about a month

2. The big machine from the first shop, back into production.

3, 4, 5 Standing in place along the wall, but not fully setup yet

6 Disassembled.

7. Belongs to me but has parts scattered between 3 different premises

domino11 · #**141** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:47

Gerald,
Shouldnt 7. read as "spare parts for Sean" ?

javeria · #**142** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:47

And just a few days back - WE thought this was such a huge space!

domino11 · #**143** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:50

Irfan,
I have found shop space fills up very easily. I think it was one of Newtons lost laws that states that shop equipment will expand to fill any size shop that is available.

javeria · #**144** Thu 04 June 2009, 10:52

Agree fully!

Gerald D · #**145** Thu 04 June 2009, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by domino11

"spare parts for Sean" ?

NO! (he has bought a couple of spares for himself - I might have to borrow from him!)

Doug_Ford · #**146** Thu 04 June 2009, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald D

NO! (he has bought a couple of spares for himself - I might have to borrow from him!)

And no smiley face. I think your Dad's serious Sean.

hennie · #**147** Thu 04 June 2009, 23:05

Good luck Sean!

Lex · #**148** Thu 04 June 2009, 23:10

Never enough hands or time to get back in production quickly!
Nearly there. Good luck!

Alan_c · #**149** Thu 04 June 2009, 23:41

Exciting stuff, done it more times than I care to remember - enjoy.

Whereabout is the new premisis, close to the old one or nearer the airport?

CAM Craft · #**150** Fri 05 June 2009, 03:13

thanks all. just 5km from old joint. Now in Salt River. I have to keep my distance from airport industria otherwise we will bump heads

. And my spares will be stolen

. Mess means cash flow

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