I saw a well constructed 4 drawer cabinet over on the Facebook group the other day. Id like to do something similar on my 4x4 Almtill. I estimate its weight would be about 50lbs and probably another 20 to 30 pounds for tooling and tools and other nick knacks and such. So call it an even 100lbs. The original builder mounted it directly to the first two cross rails underneath the table . He mounted the cabinet with self drilling screws. Any chance mounting something like this would cause me issues down the road with table sag etc etc? photo from Mathew Mead in the Facebook group
Other than access for replacing your baseboard (if you attached it with screws from below), probably not. The table is strong enough for several Sienci employees to stand/sit on it, and (even though I believe they measure Canadian’s weight in Celsius or something) they have got to weigh in at more than 100 pounds ![]()
A non-scientific google query says that the estimated pull-out strength of self-tapping screws into aluminum extrusion depends on several variables, but a study found pull-out values ranging from approximately 660 to 2,500 pounds for 1/4-inch screws.
Your milage may vary, objects in the mirror are driving backwards closer than they appear, and this post may contain nuts. ![]()
@JPlocher As a proud Canadian, I take exception to the weight crack. Everyone knows that we measure weight in stones. ![]()
Well done! Appreciate the humor. Now to sift fact from fiction! Us Americans should be excellent at that given our current state of politics!
Some observations from my foray into this arena…
I extended my baseboard (the one under the spoilboard) 6-8 inches or so in front of the machine, giving me a nice shelf in front of, and 3/4" below the area where my workpieces will be. (Vectric files here) This is room enough for a keyboard and mouse, various wrenches and the other detritus of my in-progress projects, in a place where they absolutely can not be in the way of any wayward cutting mishaps.
I mounted a 2-circuit 20A lightswitch (SPDT) in a box under the VFD that connects to switched outlets, one for the spindle, and the other for the SLB, LED wallwart and work lights. This lets me easily turn things off at the end of a session.
I also ran some 2x4 stringers across/between th elegs using the holes on the legs and dropped a plywood base across them, as a temporary stand-in for a future set of drawers like you posted above. My hesitation is that I went with a base/spoil-board that used dog holes and T-nuts:
- If I build drawers like you show, the top one will either fill up with sawdust or a hidden top above it will, with no way to clean.
- Dog holes and fesstool style MFT clamps need clearance - either above where they are easily hit by the spindle, or below, where the drawer assembly will prevent access.
- As I mentioned above, my baseboard is screwed in from the bottom, and the screws thru the stringer flanges would be inaccessible.
For now, I’m letting these competing thoughts simmer and hoping that someone else will come up with a brillient alternative!
A couple of thought for your simmering:
I mounted a vertical work holding surface on the front of the Altmill. If you extend the baseboard then you will not have that option.
I decided to attach my baseboard through the top because of access from below if I decided to install drawers.
I tapped the holes in the existing stringers (a few, not all), made a CAD model of the stringers with the tapped holes and used that to make the design for the base board. I placed a blank baseboard onto the stringers, used the CAD model to cut the bolt holes and counterbores and screwed the baseboard to the stringers from the top. I might decide to tap all remaining stringer holes in the future.
The bed deflection is probably the weakest point. I would be careful how you attach your drawers. It would be nice if it added to rigidity instead - perhaps you can use mounting holes on the legs.
A simple dial indicator anywhere on the gantry and indicating on the table, and pushing down on the table will show you. It will be worse in the center obviously.
