How To Move HAAS TM-1 CNC Milling Machine With A Pallet Jack

5 hours ago

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The HAAS TM1 CNC Milling Machine can be moved easily with a pallet jack, but it does require some creativity.

The front and back legs of the HAAS TM1 are not the same width. A standard 27" wide pallet jack fits under the front legs, between the feet, but it does not fit under the back legs, between the feet.

The easiest way to move the HAAS TM-1 with a pallet jack is to come in from the side with the pallet jack. However this is difficult to do with the side splash guards installed. Removing the side splash guards makes it easy.

MOVING HAAS TM-1 FROM FRONT WITH PALLET JACK

This was a test to see if moving from the front was a viable option. This allows moving with a pallet jack without remove the side splash guards panels. Even with a full enclosure, it can be moved from the front like this. The mill feet must be raised high enough to allow the pallet jack to slide underneath the legs.

The HAAS TM-1 CNC mill table should be moved as far forward in Y as possible. This will bring the most weight to the front, bringing the center of mass closest to the main body of the pallet jack. We don't want all the weight resting on the 2 small wheels at the tips of the fork.

The stop limit when sliding the pallet jack under is when the forks hit the back feet screws. There's still space between the front of the machine and the pallet jack. It would be ideal if the pallet jack could slide a little further under to move as much weight as possible towards the rear of the pallet jack.

With the correct beam under the machine, it is possible to angle the pallet jack such that the fork tips pass next to the back feet, allowing the pallet jack to slide further under the machine.

This is how the test looked. This is as far as the pallet jack could slide under the machine. I did not want the tips of the pallet jack under the back leg (the tips alone are not strong enough to support the load), so there was a small gap between the back legs and the fork tips.

Using a scrap pallet rack beam and 2x6 to test. Not ideal since the profile of the pallet rack beam allows it to flex and compress. This was just a test.

I'm going to mount the I beam under that tapped screw hole and build a bracket to hold the I beam attached to the screw hole. That way it will stay in place for future moves.

The height from the base of the rear leg to the base of the main casting is 155mm (6.102in). A 6in steel I beam with a 0.125in thick shim will work perfectly.