I bought 2 of the 24" x 36" Dragon Wagons. That’s really all I could (barely) afford right now. I can put them together to get 48" x 36" table. However, I have to put together a steel rectangle tube frame where the bottom part is 41" x 40" and the top part is 39" x 38". The 48" direction is plenty of room for the larger dimensions, however I have a 3-4" gap plus additional needed space for perimeter clamping for the even the smaller dimensions on the 36" direction. I know that the tower block is made for this but at almost $500 a pop, that isn’t in the cards right now.
I was trying to think of ways to connect the 2 tables but space them apart while maintaining flatness & alignment as best I can (good enough anyway as it’s not for aerospace or anything). My first thought was putting some threads on some 3/4" steel rods to use them a long bolts. Perhaps I could use some steel plate to fill the gap, if I can figure out a way to bring the plate from the rods (side hole) level up to table level? However, I wanted to see if anyone else has tried this or had any better ideas. It is just a temporary setup to get this one frame built.
Can you post a photo of the desired table configuration? But if it’s only a few inches that you need to separate the tables I’d go with a tall riser bolted to the sides.
I would but I’m still waiting for the hardware to put the legs on . It’s a basic rectangle though with probably about a 6" gap between them on the 36" side. Here is what I need to make if that helps:
The bottom, top, and columns will all be separate pieces that bolt together so I just have to weld them up separately. It’s the bottom and top parts that I won’t be able to clamp all at once with the tables bolted together flush.
Actually I think I had it wrong in my head. Having them flush with each other on the 36" sides, would give me the 48" (24" + 24"). So really I’d need to have them flush but would either need to offset them (to extend the 36" side on opposite sides) or just extend one side outright. Well, crap…
LOL, yea, perhaps. I’m not saying that is the best design but it’s what I came up with. This is going to be a frame that needs to support a CNC mill, targeting a max weight of 4,500 lbs (that’s with buffer) that it will need to support (the mill, tooling, stock material, extra components, etc.). The reason for all the changing of direction of the piping is to allow access to assembly / disassembly of bolts. There will be 8 heavy duty casters so it can be moved around relatively easily (the small 2"x6" outward opening pieces on the bottom). The two long lengths are to allow for a fork lift, if it needs to move farther. It is just the frame so I think as long as I can keep it to 1/16", I should be ok. It just has to line right up to be assembled and be reasonably flat.
I could use rivet nuts and I will in some cases where there isn’t a lot of weight on it. However, at the top, the bolts that will connect it to the frame will be embedded in concrete so I have to be able to get in there and put a nut on the bolt end and I’ll won’t be able to turn the bolt. For the bottom where the casters will attach, I’d rather not bet on a rivet nut to hold.
I think I’ve determined that for the base, I will start on the inside and go out. The inside frame (with the two 41" long pieces for the fork lift) will fit on the two tables butted together. Then I can shift it from one side to the other to add the outside width frame.
With the top, I can do something similar since I have the back rectangle frame. Then once I have that welded up, I’ll shift it over to do the front part of the frame.
My thought is that since I only have a 2-4 inches of overhang on the each component and I’ve already established a smaller inside frame that is reasonably square & flat, then it shouldn’t matter if that part of it will extend past the table. I can probably clamp some something flat to the end to give the overhang I won’t be working on some support. Please let me know if you see any problems / holes with that idea.
. It’s a basic rectangle though with probably about a 6" gap between them on the 36" side. Here is what I need to make if that helps: