How to Specify a Machine Base
Made in the USA
Specify a machine base by its material, envelope, load, the flatness and squareness the mounted equipment needs, the top plate finish, options, and how many you'll build. Steel suits mass and damping, aluminum suits weight-sensitive or moving bases, and stainless suits washdown, food, pharmaceutical and medical work.
Choosing a material
| Material | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| Steel | Mass, stiffness and damping. The default |
| Aluminum | Lower weight, or a base or plate that moves |
| Stainless steel | Washdown, food, pharmaceutical and medical |
| Carbon fiber (dial plates) | Low-inertia dials for fast indexing |
What to send EAC
- Drawing or envelopeYour print, or overall size and height with mounting locations.
- MaterialSteel, aluminum or stainless, and top plate material.
- TolerancesFlatness, parallelism and squareness required on mounting surfaces.
- LoadsWeight of mounted equipment and any dynamic loads.
- OptionsShelf, casters, levelers, fork tubes, coolant trough, paint and plating.
- Dial platesDiameter, thickness, material, bore and hole pattern.
- Quantity and scheduleOne-off or repeat, and when you need them.