Looking for dynamic way to load/offload the CMM's with heavy fixtures and other ideas

Well, you've pretty much covered all the 'common' methods. Jib crane is about the only other method I can think of (swing-arm crane instead of a gantry crane).

I have a gantry crane to load/un-load my bridge machine. Isn't an issue at all.

Something like this?

Or this?

Something like this?

Or this?

+1 if you go into products on John's web site he posted you will see the one we use.

C22 – Basic Series DC Counterbalanced Stacker

2,200lb capacity model


A excellent value priced alternative to a sit-down forklift.

• 24 volt Curtis SepEx transistor control

• High torque DC drive motor

• Lift and lower buttons in handle

• Forward and back tilt for accurate positioning of loads

• High visibility I-beam mast

• Off-set drive wheel and casters provide for easy steering

• Ergonomic handle with safety reversing switch and horn

• Industrial battery with external charger

• Battery discharge indicator with hour meter

• ITA Class II fork carriage

Thanks to everyone for their feedback, the suggestions and attachments were very helpful. For a couple of the smaller CMM's I am contemplating having rollers at the end going into the wall of the lab and then load the gages from the outside. My biggest problem with our current lab is that the gages that we recertify for production end up pretty dirty and come in on skids. I figured that cleaning them outside the lab along with not having to drag in the skids will help keep the dirt and dust out.


I have two large CMM's and another option might be a pole with an extension arm with a hoist attached that would swing over the two.

Matthew, are you living in Rick Snyder's basement now?

Thanks Again.

I like the idea of a roller pass through from a cleaning area. My only concern with the roller idea is that someone maybe dragging the part from the roller to the granite. We have some lift carts like John posted. We also have a jib crane. We have it blocked in sucha a way that it can't swing into the CMM if the bridge is all the way back. Works great. We also put a set of double doors in front of the CMM in case we need to use a fork lift, but the jib crane has made that unnecessary.

Don't know what your budget is, but how about an automated pallet system? Similar to a pallet system on a machining center cell.

I use a gantry crane for loading/unloading my CMM.

Don't know what your budget is, but how about an automated pallet system? Similar to a pallet system on a machining center cell.

I use a gantry crane for loading/unloading my CMM.

The coolest setup I've ever seen was at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis Indiana. Their setup was totally automated, including CMM feedback to machining centers. Parts were shuttled into enclosed CMM’s at various locations inside the plant via robotic transports straight from the machining centers. The transports would approach the CMM enclosure, a door would automatically open, a scanner would read which part/phase in machining process, automatically call up the correct program, then load the CMM using a palletized system.

Once everything was in place, the CMM would automatically begin the inspection process. It was fascinating to watch. I was a member of the Sheffield User’s group back in the early 90’s and Allison would host the meetings, so I saw this more than once. Keep in mind, this was all happening back in the early 1990’s. Who knows what kind of setup they’ve got now ? That was a multi-million dollar investment.

Hi Scott,

Cranes work great but have their own dangers. Because you have the advantage being able to design from scratch, and the advantage of nearly everything being flat-bottomed I'm envisioning:
1) All CMMs are installed at same height.
2) Carts all at the same height.
3) A roller system to ease loading/unloading.

Where are y'all moving to? Is another plant new being built?

Robert,

that would be neat to see. we perform more product development measurements seeing the parts only for a year or so before we hand it off to manufacuring. We do have a wheels division where they could use that type of set up within the manufacuring eviroment.

Josh,

Good to hear form you. Hope everything is treating you well. They are talking about moving us to AWE. We shall see if it really happens. I am still looking for a good metrologisit if you want to come back..... When do you think you be in town again? We should get together and catch up.

A other way is how many people work there?