Just finished assembling my Gen 2 Woodworker on the rolling/folding stand. No problems, all went well. The only issue I ran into is I honestly didn’t realize how heavy this is (and I don’t even have the spindle installed yet). My point for having this type of stand was that my shop is quite small and I need to stand up my machine and roll it out of the way. Without a second person there’s really no way I can lift the one end to fold the legs.
Anyone have any ideas or do I just need to hit the gym more?
I just ordered the reinforced legs to replace my folding/rolling stand for my WW. Now that I have the Redline HMI with the spindle VFD and motion controller bolted to the underside of the table, I realize I’m never going to fold it up or move it. I get a fair amount of wobbling during cuts, so I figured I’d bite the bullet and purchase the stronger legs.
When I purchased my system a year ago, my plan was to go with the router and use a shop vac for dust. Now that I have my final(?) system setup, it isn’t going anywhere.
I just got my Gen 2 Journeyman. I have to say that in the limited amount of use I have had so far, the machine does shake a bit more than I was hoping on the folding stand. I like Roger said, realize now that with a spindle, controller and laser all in the mix, it might not be as portable as I was hoping. I can lift mine, but it is a bit of a dead lift to do it. Maybe find a couple ceiling joists to make a hoist point and use a ratchet strap to get you up enough to do the rest yourself. The other thing I am realizing is this folding table was designed for the older machines and while it works, it could use some updating to compensate for all the power and weight of the newer machines. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to keep everything tidy while being moved. Originally I was hoping to be able to get it in and out of the man door that is the only way in and out of the space I have. Unfortunately, I was way over optimistic about being able do do that. I built it outside and than it was an event to get it through that door. My wife is less than pleased that it will probably be living its life set up most of the time and only in an as needed bases be fold up. So overall, I would say folding rolling for me will need some modification to really work for me the way I was expecting, and currently not quite as useful or as ridged as I had hoped. I don’t think I could have made it work any other way, but that being said…I think @OnefinityCNC might need to rework this option if they want to keep it viable going forward, given the weight and speed of the new machines. I am happy overall, and deep down knew that I was probably being overly optimistic, but when I really want something, I have a great ability to ignore the things that more sensible would pay closer attention to…a blessing and a curse I suppose…my wife kept asking…aren’t you going to measure? LOL…if I measure, I might talk myself out of it ! Growing pains, but happy to have them.
I was hoping 1F would provide a “leg upgrade” kit for the rolling cart as they had for the non-folding legs, but I gave up waiting. I spent a day trying to design my own leg upgrade system, but I worried I would spend $200 on angle iron or metal pipes and it wouldn’t accomplish what I wanted. The reinforced leg kit isn’t too expensive, but the $150 in shipping is rough!
The front to back seems to be fine but the side to side in the folding direction is where it needs help. I thing a simple corner bracket would do wonders or a brace from leg to leg.
I’ve been in contact with Onefinity all afternoon today specifically regarding the front heavy problem. Their response was to lean it against a wall. That actually doesn’t work since the Z slider motor sticks out way beyond the kickstand/handle and will be damaged if leaned against anything. I told Onefinity they need to extend the kickstand/handle at least another 6 inches to compensate for it being front heavy. As a quick fix, I used the included “stands” under the kickstand/handle to lift the machine up about 2” and help offset the the center of gravity and help lessen the possibility it will tip over.
This is definitely an issue that Onefinity has to address.
I like your idea, piggybacking off that maybe I will try and 3D print some new plastic rings that go on the metal bar/handle to push it back like you did with the blocks just a more permanent solution? What do you think?
If you look at the pic that PPD417 posted up, that is the handle that you use for the folding table. I also doubles as the stand that the machine sits up on to keep it upright. With the newer Gen 2 machines the X axis is very heavy and pushes the center of gravity very much forward. My machine with just and accidental bump will just fall over easily. In the same picture you can see some plastic C shaped “bumpers” that are on the handle/stand. PPD417 used the stands that 1f includes to prop the machine up to put on the spoil board as a makeshift kick stand of sorts so the machine would lean sightly more back to keep it from being so tippy. My suggestion was to use his idea, but do it by replacing those “bumpers” with larger diameter “bumpers” so the blocks he used under the kick stand were kind of just built in and replace the older C shaped “bumpers”. Hopefully that helps, but my head hurts trying to explain it lol.
When using the rolling/folding stand, and when the stand is folded, it rests on a curved kickstand/ handle thats mounted on the left or right side of the stand. The reason its front heavy is the X rail is quite heavy, add to that the Z slider and either a spindle or router, that adds a tremendous amount of weight. The X rail and Z slider+its motor extend well past the kickstand and it balances precariously, any nudge will knock it over. That’s why I used those blocks and JimmyB is looking to make those larger rings.
As you can see in this photo this is how far the X rail and Z slider+motor extend.
Good to see this thread. I asked for feedback on exactly this topic and glad I found it here.
I currently have a WW Pro on a Rolling/Folding stand, and I use a “snowmobile lift” to help me lift and lower the rolling end of the unit:
I had to get a lifting strap and wound up replacing the winch with one from Harbor Freight, but it has worked well for me. I am just not sure it will be a good option for the Gen 2 increased weight.
It also seems like “simple” (removable) corner braces would be a good solution for the increased vibration. Both of my MFT tables have these, and I don’t use them all the time, but when I need them, they work really well!
So one more idea that I might try out. It will solve two problems for me, the tip happy issue but also how I would like to be able to roll the unit in the narrow orientation so I can get it through a regular man door. The idea is to U bolt a chunk of plywood to the handl that is obviously wider, but also put casters on it.
I like the winch idea. Since it has a capacity of 700lbs, that should work. Just need to measure the handle height to see it will lift it all the way up.
I think I mentioned that I currently have a WW Pro on a folding/mobile base, and the snow mobile lift raises the wheeled end just enough to fold those legs under, and lower the unit onto the wheels.
In fact, with the original winch, I raised it a little too high (once), and mangled the hook so off to Harbor Freight for a replacement winch.
I have a few extra inches in the strap that I could take up by wrapping around the “handle bar”, but that has not been necessary to this point.
Overall, it makes me feel a lot safer when storing and restoring the unit, but I am still “weighing” my options on the upgrade path to the Gen 2. I was hoping OneFinity would “weigh in” on the question of the Gen 2 Elite weight.
One more question about specs. Does anyone know the height of the Z gantry with the new motors on the Gen 2 Elite. I store my WW Pro against a wall (to get my truck in the garage), and it is tight, so I am hoping the updated model is not too much taller in this dimension.
! Growing pains, but happy to have them.
