Rolling and Arresting Floor Mounted Drill Press Base.

[flyerdan]

For something that small you should be able to whip up some retractable casters in a frame that fits just under the bottom platform using a couple of air cylinders to actuate. They could work a cam eccentric to raise lower the casters, since they don't have to go very far the stroke of the cylinder can go to mechanical advantage, allowing you to use some of the smaller CNC machine type cylinders.
I've thought about this kind of idea for moving a welding table; plug the air hose to it, move where needed then remove the air, letting it settle firmly to the floor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was hoping that someone like HF had whipped it up for me. I have so many projects and so much whipping to do already. lol

 

[aczlan]

Take a piece of 3/8" flat plate, weld a piece of 3/8" round stock around the edge and drill/tap the plate for a quick connect and a shutoff valve, hook up the quick connect and use the shutoff valve to regulate the flow of air so that it just floats.
If you can get to 100PSI under a 10x10 piece of plate, it will lift 10,000#. 10PSI under the plate will lift 1000#.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

It doesn't require some kind of flexible skirt?

 

[aczlan]

It doesn't require some kind of flexible skirt?

Depends on the air flow and the length of the perimeter. A seal will make it more efficient, but may not be needed.

Aaron Z

 

[tjkubota93]

The front caster is like the ones on the roll around stairs at home depot, etc

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have some of those stairs hidden away in my 40 foot container!

 

[Ford850]

I use a Shop Fox HD mobile base from Grizzly. Even with a larger-than-original base sized floor on the mobile base, you have to be careful or it can get tippy. Overall it works perfect for me though. There are 2 screw type floor locks that only take a quick twist to touch the floor and make it solid, but I don't think I've ever locked them when using the drill press. I have a similar base on my band saw and I do lock that base most of the time due to the lateral pushing while sawing.

 

[Mace Canute]

How about just installing it on a base with small casters? That's how I move my generator around.. Bought it at tractor supply for $20..

I agree! Princess Auto often have their dollys on sale and the last one I bought was $20 for an 18" by 30" one that had a several hundred pound load rating. Add a piece of 3/4" plywood on it and bolt everything down solid and include some extra weight on the base for stability reasons and Bob's your uncle. Looked like this one. Locking casters aren't needed for a drill press.

 

[stuckmotor]

I'd like to see what you work out, especially if it's an air cushion.