Shop Layout - Would love feedback

[bking1836]

I am starting up a new small shop with a PRSstandard 96-48. Here's a layout I am considering. It's like the 42nd version I've come up with....finally I am getting somewhere, at least I hope!

Given the narrow width of the shop, I think the CNC has to be in the pictured orientation. Otherwise it could be tough to get full sheets on.

I would appreciate any feedback, as I am relatively inexperienced. Thanks!

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[chiloquinruss]

I have a one man shop and my biggest issue when designing the layout was how to move heavy sheets of material by myself. So I made a roll around table that is the same height as my Bot and my table saw. In your design I would make your mobile worktable and your TS extension the same table. That way you can back up to your roll up door, unload onto the mobile workbench and be able to move to the TS or the Bot. Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=30694&stc=1

[bking1836]

chiloquinruss, that is simple and brilliant! Thank you. Your idea removes a table from the shop floor, which is important given the small space. And I'm only one person, so I can't work at two tables at once anyway.

[chiloquinruss]

Thanks, glad to help. Just as a sidebar the movable table is only a few inches taller than the bed of my trailer that I take to and from the lumber yard, That saves the back getting materials into the shop as well. Russ

[Keith Larrett]

I agree with Russ suggestion. A couple of other ideas.

If you have the height to store your sheet goods vertically, you could reduce that surface area from 4' x 10' to say 4' x 5'

I would consider moving the miter saw below the window on the long wall to the left. Build a long workbench and position the miter saw more or less in the center. I favor cutting with the workpiece to the left so I would position the saw so that I had 8' of workbench to the left and 6' or 7' (preferably 8' if you have the space) to the right. I'm not sure what you are planning on building, but I know how much time I spend at my miter saw and I like having a permanent spot for it. The workbench could also double as cabinet/storage space.

[bking1836]

I agree with Russ suggestion. A couple of other ideas.

If you have the height to store your sheet goods vertically, you could reduce that surface area from 4' x 10' to say 4' x 5'

Thanks for the suggestions. You don't have issues with sheet goods curling when stored upright?

[gundog]

If it were my shop I would move the CNC close to the roll up door so I could back up and slide material right on the table of the CNC and also have my sheet storage close by. A small overhead crane system for moving sheets using a sliding barn door track with a cheap HF electric hoist might also be nice to move sheets from storage to table saw and CNC. You don't need an overhead crane system strong enough to lift car engines just good enough to move sheet goods. If you were close to me I would give you some door track I have a bunch of it.

I have a forklift that makes life much easier but you would need to be able to have access from the door and enough room to maneuver the forklift. Older used forklifts can be had fairly cheap if you watch CL.

[gundog]

One other thought I am not sure if you are located in a rural setting but if outside noise is not an issue I would consider moving the dust collector outside it saves space and lowers the noise level in the shop. I have a loafing shed I put my vacuum hold down motors, air compressor, dust collector & vibratory tumbler in the all make a huge amount of noise it makes working in the shop much nicer. My last shop was in town and I had all the same stuff located in a room inside the shop for the same reason I called it the noise room it had good ventilation but was insulated and it contained the noise pretty good.

[ken_rychlik]

I would flip the sheet good storage just inside the large door. I can't imagine carrying sheet goods past the table saw to put them in the corner. Make the office smaller and shop bigger. Put the least used small tools where you have the current sheet storage, change the office location desk so you can see the cnc instead of being blocked by the restroom. The big thing for me was to try and not spend to many trips across the shop for different task. Material goes in one door and it is set up like a big U. My sheet goods, then cnc, then edgebander circle around to the assembly bench and back out the same door. Chop saw close to bench. All this is just to minimize steps. The less steps, the more time I save and that equals profit. Also dust collector works good in a corner. It's hard to do much else in corners except air compressors, dust collectors etc... Good luck with it

[Alan m]

is this an existing building or are you building it. if it is I would change loads. center the roller door so you go straight to the table saw by going slightly left and cnc by slightly right.
make the office 1/3 its size. make the outside personnel door open into the office and a door beside it going into workshop with toilet just inside the door . put the chopsaw so that it is using the roller door space as outfeed on longer stock.
put sheet good storage just inside the door

[Keith Larrett]

Thanks for the suggestions. You don't have issues with sheet goods curling when stored upright?

No, I haven't had any issues.

One other advantage of storing vertically is ease of access. When storing sheet goods horizontally, it always seems that the sheet you need is the one at the bottom of the pile.

[bking1836]

This is an existing building, so I can't modify the walls. Unfortunately there are no sight lines from the office area into the shop. I expect to use the larger than necessary office for some finishing work (furthest from the dust). I also can't put the DC outdoors due to regulations.

I like the idea of moving the CNC to the "bottom" of the shop layout closer to the overhead door. Here's a revised layout, which I like even better except for one thing: not sure where to put the miter saw.

Haven't decided about flat vs vertical sheet goods storage. I know it's a pain when the sheet you want is on the bottom. But I've also had plywood curl on me when stored upright, and that's a bigger problem than moving sheets around...

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!
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[dmidkiff]

All are really good suggestions. The best include mobile tables and machines, vertical plywood storage closer to the door, and stationary miter saw with out feed in the overhead door. I started with horizontal storage and quickly converted to vertical. Moved my shop to a larger building and stayed with vertical. Then moved my shop 1400 + miles and kept it vertical. Shop burned and I decided to change back to horizontal and am thinking "what were you thinking". Your back will appreciate it some day.

[Alan m]

This is an existing building, so I can't modify the walls. Unfortunately there are no sight lines from the office area into the shop. I expect to use the larger than necessary office for some finishing work (furthest from the dust). I also can't put the DC outdoors due to regulations.

I like the idea of moving the CNC to the "bottom" of the shop layout closer to the overhead door. Here's a revised layout, which I like even better except for one thing: not sure where to put the miter saw.

Haven't decided about flat vs vertical sheet goods storage. I know it's a pain when the sheet you want is on the bottom. But I've also had plywood curl on me when stored upright, and that's a bigger problem than moving sheets around...

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!
30699
that looks a lot better.
what is that blank space beside the restroom. is that out side

if you are determined to keep the sheets flat I would get someone to weld up a sheet goods rack like pallet racking. use 50mm box section steel to support the sheets. you probably only need storage for a few of each sheet type rather than 2- of one sheet. I would put the chop saw beside this in its own work station with dc etc. design the sheet good storage so that one shelf is level with the chop saw and build that level as your infeed . you can then use the front of that shelf for part storage of parts coming off the cnc until they are finished or assembled. then more shelves above that for lesser used sheets or lighter sheets.

I would put the miter saw

[Alan m]

I would put the band saw where you have the chopsaw shown so that you can open the door if you need long cuts but still do short ish ones with it closed


how high is the space.
could the dust extractor go up high and only have the bin on the ground.
I have done similar with mine and it works great. the cyclone is up high and the bin is on a shelf up high enough so that one of my lesser used tools can role under it. its a great space saver.

[curtiss]

Obviously, the location of the most difficult to move item / the ShopBot / would be the most important.

"Feeding the Shopot sheets" would be critical if you are doing heavy production work. Not sure if you will be doing a lot of cabinets or more just unique projects.

Lots of ways to turn a DC off and on with a remote switch. Somewhat by accident, I happen to have an attic fan located directly above my bot which is good for moving out any dust that the DC system might miss.

[bking1836]

that looks a lot better.
what is that blank space beside the restroom. is that out side


It's an adjacent shop (someone else's).


I would put the band saw where you have the chopsaw shown so that you can open the door if you need long cuts but still do short ish ones with it closed


how high is the space.
could the dust extractor go up high and only have the bin on the ground.
I have done similar with mine and it works great. the cyclone is up high and the bin is on a shelf up high enough so that one of my lesser used tools can role under it. its a great space saver.

The space has 10' ceilings. My concern is the weight of the drum and manipulating it if it's off the ground. But I like the idea in principle and will definitely look into it.

[Alan m]

what kind of dust extractor have you.
I have a jet cyclone. the drum is about 20" in diameter and 26 inchs high I'm guessing. it is sitting on top of 3 unistrut cantilevered brackets I havnt emptied it full yet but my plan is to pull it out onto a rolling cart and use that to bring it outside.
what volume of dust do you create in a day or week.
what do you do with the dust

I would rather have a smaller drum that was easier to empty rather than one large one that was a big job to empty.

[bking1836]

what kind of dust extractor have you.
I have a jet cyclone. the drum is about 20" in diameter and 26 inchs high I'm guessing. it is sitting on top of 3 unistrut cantilevered brackets I havnt emptied it full yet but my plan is to pull it out onto a rolling cart and use that to bring it outside.
what volume of dust do you create in a day or week.
what do you do with the dust

I would rather have a smaller drum that was easier to empty rather than one large one that was a big job to empty.

I don't have it yet, but it will be an Oneida Gorilla Pro 3HP. I will probably go with the 35 gallon drum rather than the 55 for the reason you mention. I guess getting it onto a rolling cart wouldn't be a big deal.

[gundog]

I don't have it yet, but it will be an Oneida Gorilla Pro 3HP. I will probably go with the 35 gallon drum rather than the 55 for the reason you mention. I guess getting it onto a rolling cart wouldn't be a big deal.

I have the Oneida 3.5 HP and I started with the small drum because I did not have the ceiling height for a large drum in my old shop you won't save any horizontal space with the small drum it is the same diameter as the large drum you will just have to empty it more often. You say you have a 10' ceiling do yourself a favor and get the large drum. When I moved to my new shop I extended the legs and got a 55 gallon drum it is much better.

[Alan m]

unfortunitly shop layout is very hard to nail down. it evolves with new machinery and with the jobs your doing.. I have changed my layout several times

[Pennywood]

+1 more vote for vertical plywood storage. The only shops I've ever been in that had horizontal sheet storage that made any sense used a forklift to move units. Or had a auto sheet loader for their cnc.
Have you considered exhausting your dust collection directly outside? If it's an area where the loose dust wouldn't cause a problem, it'll almost double the efficiency of your collector because you don't have to exaust through a filter.
It looks like you're showing a 4" duct to the table saw, which won't allow enough airflow to pull air through the cabinet. Use 6", if possible. It's also nice if you can allow a 4" tee for a retractable saw hood, since some of the dust will leave from the top.