Bench design - overkill?

[Luke]

I've spent today pretending to socialise with the inlaws whilst drawing up my new work bench in SW.

The main structure is 60x60x4, the top is a sheet of 2000x1000x10. I want to step the box section in from the edges to give room to clamp stuff down, but i've also got intentions of building a folder on to the front of the table, hence bringing the box right to the edge on the front (and back) edges.

I'm thinking about adding angle (60x80x6) along all four sides, to bring the thickness up to 16mm and hopefully help stiffen up the edges for bending and general clouting etc.

I've also got a Record No.25 to go over one corner, I've not drawn in bolt holes for it yet but i hope to position it right over the top of a leg.

Currently it's coming in at a shade under 300 Kg, which should mean it'll stay still!! hopefuly!?

Is the angle a good idea? overkill?

Thoughts?

 

[paulmowers]

Hi

Can you get steel cheap then!

That is one hefty bench.

paul

 

[Luke]

Hi
Can you get steel cheap then!

Nope, but I'll be building it to last.

Whatever it costs (300 quid ish?) spread over the next 50 years, makes it good value for money

 

[paulmowers]

As you say made to last, certainly, and should be able to stand up to anything you or anyone else can throw at it, or hit it with, etc.
As you say a folder on the edge is going to be a very handy addition, especially as you are designing it in at the start, I have one good bench that I could use for folding, but it already has 2 vices and a grinder attached, I could take them off but then where to put them?
Good investment over time, and it'll probably be as good then as when first built.

Paul

 

[harry69koi]

Looks smart m8ty by the way what design program are you using?

lee

 

[strube1369]

Wouldn't worry about overkill. I have never heard anyone say "Gee, I wish I had made my bench lighter and flimsier..." but I have heard people wish their bench was stouter!

 

[drivewasher]

Similar to mine, For vice mounting I welded a triangle 5mm plate across the right hand top front corner then laid vice on it and marked out drill holes

 

[rtbcomp]

INLAWS? Is there something you haven't told us?

 

[chevyman_de]

I like the table and since when is overbuilding a sin?

I would just use 60x60x5 tube for those parts ot the plate's subframe that will stay open-ended. No, not for strength. But (after some grinding to its inner weld with a bandfile) that way you can stick a 50x50 tube into them to attach some tool holders/ extensions/whatever. With an inner dimension of 52x52 you're stuck.

 

[Luke]

INLAWS? Is there something you haven't told us?

D'oh! not-quite-parents-in-law, I'll get round to doing the deed one day...

chevyman, very interesting point. I'll look in to that.

 

[Arsonista]

Overkill and over-engineering are GOOD things.

 

[Luke]

True, true. Costed the lot up on Parker's online do-dah, 290 quid including the VAT.

 

[Richiew]

harry69koi.

Luke has designed it using solidworks hence "SW" in the original post.

 

[paulmowers]

Hi All

By Arsonista, Overkill and over-engineering are GOOD things.

Absolutely, that is what this country was built on, until we started buying cheap rubbish from hong kong, china, etc, and our great industries withered away to just a few of us trying to supply quality products against an avalanche of crap. Sorry can of worms opened. and rant over.

Paul..

 

[Arsonista]

When I worked for a company that did work for the MoD, we used to have to make things squaddie proof. Now that was over engineering.

 

[harry69koi]

harry69koi.

Luke has designed it using solidworks hence "SW" in the original post.

Thanks for that m8ty