Club 80-90 Forums

Is there anything on the market to fit this requirement?

I have a machine (800 x 800) and it sits on legs. It's about 50KG.

I want a dolly system permanently mounted in its base which, with a quick action, will push the wheels to the floor, take the weight and lift the machine straight up off its legs.
(I don't want independent wheels on each corner - too much faff. )

There are several home made versions on youtube etc which are very straight forward mechanical methods and look good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dGNyc1kHAw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are hydraulic, motor, air and winding systems but I like the single throw lever where the lever is permanently attached so doesn't go missing.

I'm surprised there isn't something out there - there might be, but I can't find it.

It is for my final major at uni (hand in is May) the end is in sight - hoorah - but it still seems a bloody long way off!

Cheers

Pallet truck?

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extendable-Was ... 92783e99e1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How about this

To be honest the mechanism shown in your post link seems ideal although turning the idea upside down and assuming you need the wheels for (local) transport and the stand for operation, it might be easier to have the wheels on the supporting chassis and jack down the legs ideally in unison and locking then locking them down on the over square system. I have used that rectangular steel box section for all sorts of project and find it very easy realize my ideas in solid modelling software. I find the single foot operated lever and over square linkage attractive and would envisage a simple spring loaded single detent device to provide safety.
I did specify such a proprietary lift and shift machine stand in one of my system tooling projects many (probably some fifteen - twenty) years ago - but i can't remember who supplied it. The closest product that can find in a quick search are these: (google Axminster Workbench Castors (Pack of 4)) sadly of insufficient load capacity, which it might be possible to integrate into your design although I am guessing at this stage you might be looking for a complete ready to use proprietary item. Many combinations of words like lift, shift, machine, stand, might bring up something although specialist tooling design firms are the people who are most likely to meet these needs. Hope that helps.

Jeff J wrote:Pallet truck?

A custom built pallet truck could be an option but I am trying to avoid hydraulic and pump action. The rise only needs to be about 10 mm so a simple lever throw would be convenient and practical.

nicq wrote:https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extendable-Was ... 92783e99e1

How about this

That's the dolly part of it sorted, just need a way of lifting it (or dropping it)

Mr Bean wrote:To be honest the mechanism shown in your post link seems ideal although turning the idea upside down and assuming you need the wheels for (local) transport and the stand for operation, it might be easier to have the wheels on the supporting chassis and jack down the legs ideally in unison and locking then locking them down on the over square system. I have used that rectangular steel box section for all sorts of project and find it very easy realize my ideas in solid modelling software. I find the single foot operated lever and over square linkage attractive and would envisage a simple spring loaded single detent device to provide safety.
I did specify such a proprietary lift and shift machine stand in one of my system tooling projects many (probably some fifteen - twenty) years ago - but i can't remember who supplied it. The closest product that can find in a quick search are these: (google Axminster Workbench Castors (Pack of 4)) sadly of insufficient load capacity, which it might be possible to integrate into your design although I am guessing at this stage you might be looking for a complete ready to use proprietary item. Many combinations of words like lift, shift, machine, stand, might bring up something although specialist tooling design firms are the people who are most likely to meet these needs. Hope that helps.

It is certainly what I am after. Just hoped it would be an off the shelf item.
Most of the time the machine will be on its legs (which will be screw height adjust), the push down wheels will only be needed to move out from and back into storeage when not in use.

I think this would be a marketable product - but that's for another day
I'll get this design finished first.

Toggle clamps?

https://www.brauer.co.uk/manual-toggle-clamps-c1.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did find a toggle action clamp with a castor wheel and vertical slide but I have lost it. maybe I try again.(passage of time ) Right then these seem to be getting there: https://www.norelem.com/us/en/Products/ ... -foot.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . As I see it the circular "foot" drops down to lift the wheel and whatever the unit is attached to off the ground by some 15mm. the challenge would be to arrange for the lifting levers of the four units to be operated ideally together. I believe the "foot" is actuated concentrically to the castoring axis. While this may not be suitable it demonstrates an appreciation for the need of such devices which therefor may be available somewhere possibly assembled to a platform or stand. The one I have lost must be "out there" somewhere

E D I T: https://www.norelem.com/us/en/Products/ ... plate.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
seems to be a variant of the same product but I am not clear on how it is actuated.

there was a washing machine built in 2 wheel dolly that folds under the machine to drop it back on it's feet, ie the wheels move through 90 degrees, there's a handle that folds under the machine you fold it out then pull on it to extend the wheels and lift the front and pull the machine out to work on it, I may even still have one as I usually don't throw anything away but I 'm not sure I do still have it or where it might be. We had it fitted on our Servis washing machine, it may actally have been their own product because their USP was they came and serviced the machine regularly rather than the 'use it till it breaks and then fix or replace' model that we mostly have now, it made it super easy to move the machine for cleaning under or for repair or for decorating

I went looking for a similar product a couple of years back to put a printing press on, although the overall weight in my case was around 200kg.

I found plenty of projects on YouTube that people have done making quick-lift dollies for various types of woodworking machinery - mainly table saws. If I recall correctly, there’s even one US table saw manufacturer who make a production version, but which only fits their machinery.

In the end I couldn’t find anything simple and sturdy enough so ended up fitting CarryMaster castors to the press stand:



These give a really sturdy base to the press when the castor feet are down, and it only takes a couple of minutes to raise the press onto its wheels to move it - not a big faff, but more work perhaps than you’re looking for

Ebay, 292816976595
Pool table trolley any good?

Cheers people, some good input. I have found the various castors and many would be very suitable if the problem of getting them to act together could be sorted.

The link I shared is a very functional and doable option, my main concern is the amount of room it takes within the machine enclosure (as that is where the drive pinions, motor, extraction are all situated) - also the foot pedal would protude fro the front as the machine bed overhang is only 25mm.

Whilst watching the TV last night I had an idea. Based on the idea I shared, A torsion bar through the length of the bottom edge of the machine - this is attached by a swivel link/or guided through holes on the castor upright with an offset. Throw the lever from the upright position to the flat position and the offset acts as a cam and lowers the wheels down.
the two sides could be linked or as a compromise, two levers could be used to operate the two sides independently (Still better than 4 corners as both lever can be accessed from the front).

It could also be built into the bottom frame box section of the frame (although I'd probably up it from 40x40 to 50x50 to allow room.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2230002861" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or perhaps this is what you need, or Copy

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2644106380" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

davidoft1 wrote:https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2230002861

Or perhaps this is what you need, or Copy

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2644106380" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very close to that