Welding Cart Drawings (3D)

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Google Sketchup is pretty cool for a free program. Has a bit of a learning curve though.Drew up this MIG cart to hold my Lincoln 180C and 40CF tank. It is influenced by a bunch of different carts I have seen on various forums.Box to store consumables on second shelf and bullhorns on both sides for welding leads.It's made out of a single continuous piece of 1.25" .120 wall DOM tube . I will probably replace the sheet with some expanded metal if I ever build this thing. I don't know how long tubing comes in but I am hoping it's available long enough to make the cart out of one single piece. Open to constructive criticism or any suggestions that would make life easier if I ever actually make it, which may be a while unless I can find someone that will let me use their bender.Last edited by ChrisL; 07-30-2012 at 04:25 AM.
Reply:I would call it good practice with the "follow me" tool, but bending that up would be tough. Your design  would lend itself well to modifying a shopping cart from a grocery store to get the bends you want "pre-made". Also looks too narrow in the front which could casue the casters to bind on eachother when pulling straight forward or reverse. You can check for the binding in Sketchup by rotating each caster on their pivot points until both wheels are towards eachother, if they touch, you're too narrow. Of course your caster must be drawn to proper dimensions/scale to perform this excersise.Good work though, figureing out how to "bend pipe" in Sketchup is advanced stuff.
Reply:Originally Posted by markfugaI would call it good practice with the "follow me" tool, but bending that up would be tough. Your design  would lend itself well to modifying a shopping cart from a grocery store to get the bends you want "pre-made". Also looks too narrow in the front which could casue the casters to bind on eachother when pulling straight forward or reverse. You can check for the binding in Sketchup by rotating each caster on their pivot points until both wheels are towards eachother, if they touch, you're too narrow. Of course your caster must be drawn to proper dimensions/scale to perform this excersise.Good work though, figureing out how to "bend pipe" in Sketchup is advanced stuff.
Reply:Made some design improvements base on some input from a couple people.Moved casters outboard and added some vertical support.
Reply:I would keep the front casters and trade the rears for larger outward mounted wheels that would let you drop the tank a little lower too, the lower the weight, the sturdier it will be, just my 2-cents
Reply:.120 wall will be more than enough in my meager opinion.  Should last a lifetime, and a few drops from a roof top.  Haha.  With the proposed vertical braces, I think you could get away with .065 tube.  You'll probably find it in 20 ft lengths.  How do you plan to cut the sheet?-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:Originally Posted by rabidchimp.120 wall will be more than enough in my meager opinion.  Should last a lifetime, and a few drops from a roof top.  Haha.  With the proposed vertical braces, I think you could get away with .065 tube.  You'll probably find it in 20 ft lengths.  How do you plan to cut the sheet?-Aaron
Reply:In light some deflection calculations I've decided to remove the vertical supports. If it becomes a problem in the future I will address it. I am convinced it will be fine though.Also added some 10" rubber to go with the casters both of which were on the free 3d warehouse, I did not draw them.
Reply:You want your large 10" wheels where the tank sits.  That is the where the majority of the weight is & the larger wheels will carry the weight better.Otherwise, looks good.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Virtual welding "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I've got my Lincoln MIG on the Harbor Freight cart, which works well for $50.I did make a cart for my TIG out of two 18 x 36" shelves, bed frame angle iron, and the some metal drawers (the drawers are just sitting on the lower shelf and held in place with screws so they don't slide around).  The picture is from when I first got it together - I have a much heavier machine on it now and it's still plenty adequate.One nice touch is to put rubber edging on the cutout for the tank.  Be sure to leave an allowance for how much it adds to the edge as well as a little wiggle room for the tank. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2You want your large 10" wheels where the tank sits.  That is the where the majority of the weight is & the larger wheels will carry the weight better.Otherwise, looks good.
Reply:you wont be able to make each side perfectly symetrical unless you have a LOT of bending experience.  and are very lucky.  If you allow yourself to cheat a little you can do it fairly easy.  Allow some joints where you can put a smaller piece of tube inside to join the main tube together straight, then you can grind any of those welds flush and nobody will ever know.  Just try to make it even and then fix your mistakes this way. (if one side has a slightly longer straight section, just cut it and join it.)