The Sheet Metal Shop .Com

Kinks - shop layout

russhvac - Oct 25, 2006 - 09:00 PM
Post subject: shop layout

i am new to the sheet metal field, i am puuting together a shop and was looking for a basic( or complicated ) for a machine layout.how should it flow. splitter to pittsburgh to break. so i can have a shop that flows and we are not falling over each other..maybe a drawing of where it all goes.. i would appreciate everyones advice..
russ

legacy - Oct 25, 2006 - 09:47 PM
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Russ-

In the 14 years that I have been in this business, I have moved to and from 4 shops to my present one (#5). What I found about layout for proper flow is that no matter how well you plan out the space, you end up buying more and more machinery and end up putting machines wherever they will fit.

How big of a space do you have to work with?

Dan

Bud - Oct 25, 2006 - 11:49 PM
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Welcome to our Shop Russ Smile

As Dan explains, much depends on the size of the shop...however, there are consultants (check with snips) that most of what they do is help with traffic and flow patterns. I too have worked in shops that we had to make every inch of space count...

Hope to see stop by often! Got questions, please do ask them.

Anonymous - Oct 26, 2006 - 12:37 AM
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russhvac...I do a lot of shop layout for customers. Let me know shop size, shape, how you unload trucks, and how many doors you have in the shop. I will help you layout shop, air lines, etc.

ccrayjr - Oct 26, 2006 - 12:40 AM
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Sorry I wasn't logged in...russhvac...I do a lot of shop layout for customers. Let me know shop size, shape, how you unload trucks, and how many doors you have in the shop. I will help you layout shop, air lines, etc.

Bud - Oct 26, 2006 - 01:32 AM
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Good work flow is essential for success in sheet metal shops..you can read this article and more in Snips Magazine.

Here is a link, you may need to register, but it's worth it. There is plaeny more there and there are too books on the subject...

http://www.snipsmag.com/CDA/Archives/5c ... 32a8c0____

Good Luck and let us know how you did.

russhvac - Oct 26, 2006 - 09:49 PM
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thanks for everyones response, we will chek out snips and i will size up and let all know .....thanks again

legacy - Oct 26, 2006 - 10:06 PM
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Snips used to have a small booklet about shop layout. (I believe it was free at one point). It was quite outdated as it did not incorporate a plasma cutter into the 'flow' but it was interesting nonetheless.

Dan

Bud - Oct 27, 2006 - 06:31 AM
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You may want to draw a 1/2 or 1" scale of your floor plan and get some top view templates (aprox) and shuffle them around for traffic patten...just remember to work your way out the door...steel can be carried / lifted to any where in the shop?

russhvac - Oct 27, 2006 - 04:47 PM
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OUR SHOP IS AT THE LEAST 20FT X 24FT , OVER HEAD DOOR WITH OUT DOOR LOADING DOCK, POSSIBLE FORK LIFT, AT VERY LEAST APALLET JACK, NOWHERE NEAR READY FOR A PLASMA...WHERE CAN I GET TOP VIEW TEMPLATS, AVAILBLE? OR DRAW THEM?
RUSS

russhvac - Oct 27, 2006 - 08:22 PM
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HEY CCRAYJR, WE HAVE MORE THAN WHT I PROPOSE, WE HAVE ACCESS TO FORK TRUCK AND THE ROOM TO MOVE. I'LL DRAW A QUICK DRAWING AND TRY TO ATTACH IT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT IM LOOKING AT ...THNAKS AGAIN
RUSS

Bud - Oct 28, 2006 - 12:50 AM
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russhvac wrote:

OUR SHOP IS AT THE LEAST 20FT X 24FT , OVER HEAD DOOR WITH OUT DOOR LOADING DOCK, POSSIBLE FORK LIFT, AT VERY LEAST APALLET JACK, NOWHERE NEAR READY FOR A PLASMA...WHERE CAN I GET TOP VIEW TEMPLATS, AVAILBLE? OR DRAW THEM?
RUSS

You'd probaly have to draw them out...I did this once on construction paper and was able to best think things through...the equipment is heavy too be moving around...

Bud

raptor518 - Oct 01, 2007 - 02:51 PM
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I've had a small shop for over 15 years now. We used to work out of our garage and now have a bigger place. 40ft X 70ft to be exact. I've looked all over for shop design. It's totally about feel.

We have two stations with a break, table and pittsburgh machine.
All the other machines are placed with as much room around them as we can get. I've never found a flow to the shop. Even if I had it set up the way I think it should. It would never work out. Go with what makes you feel comfortable. there's no proper way to set up a small shop. A bigger shop with plasma cutters etc. maybe. But a really small shop, I think it's all about how you get the most done. Everyone does this job differently.