A medium-power semi-automatic welding machine itself weighs a lot. In addition, a cylinder with protective gas, a hose, a torch, wires, and a mask must be delivered to the welding site. The tool for preparing the welding zone, cleaning seams, a supply of welding wire, and other consumables also takes up space and weighs a lot. A semi-automatic cart is useful for this. Everything you need for work is conveniently placed on it. Such products are mass-produced and have two, three or four wheels. Experienced craftsmen are not satisfied with industrial designs; they design and independently make carts “for themselves.”
Characteristics
The purpose of such equipment is to ensure the mobility and convenience of the welder, to reduce the loss of time preparing for welding, dragging tens of kilograms of equipment, tools, and materials. With the help of a trolley, a full-fledged mobile welding station is created, which contains everything that is needed to perform a weld anywhere in a workshop, workshop or construction site.
The main characteristics of such trolleys are as follows:
- Load capacity . The structure must support the weight of the welding machine, cylinder, hose, wires, consumables, and auxiliary tools. The total easily adds up to a hundredweight, or even more.
- Sustainability . The design of the trolley must prevent it from tipping over, even if a passing assistant touches it or the welder pulls strongly on the hose.
- Capacity . In addition to the welding machine and gas cylinder, a large number of large and small-sized items need to be placed in convenient trays, boxes or hangers. They should not wobble or fall out while moving.
- Dimensions and maneuverability . A trolley for a semi-automatic welding machine with a cylinder should take up little space, the dimensions of the vehicle should allow it to pass through passages up to 70 cm and turn almost at a right angle.
In addition, the device should have easy movement and a comfortable handle.
Buy or make
When a need arises for a welding cart, the question almost always comes up: “Should I buy it or make it myself?” Both options have both pros and cons, and now about each of them.
Car from the store
If you have a certain amount of money, it is not difficult to buy a cart with the required configuration
But is she worth it? Yes, the assortment is fascinating, and the wide price range will please anyone, but before purchasing you should pay attention to:
- Manufacturer. It is not advisable to purchase Chinese-made products. Such carts are very fragile, as they are made of thin-walled pipes.
- Load capacity. It must correspond to that declared by the manufacturer.
- Quality of welds. Seams that are cleaned for beauty often become the reason for the unreliability of the entire structure.
- Value for money.
Homemade trolley
But it’s not always possible to find a cart of the right size and configuration. If you still decide to save money and make a cart with your own hands, then first you should decide on the configuration and take the necessary measurements. Additionally, you can make a drawing of the future device, or take it publicly available on the Internet.
The next step will be collecting materials. For this purpose, cuttings of any metal pipes, corners, plates, etc., which are often left over after welding, are suitable. Such trimmings can be easily purchased in stores for a nominal price or found in a landfill (this also happens).
After this, all parts are carefully measured, cut and, if necessary, polished. Then the welding process itself begins, which it is advisable to start with the frame to ensure the strength of the entire structure. Once the frame is ready, you can safely move on to the shelves, wheels and other contents.
Expert opinion Bagrov Viktor Sergeevich Welder of the highest 6th category. He is considered a master of his craft, knows the intricacies and nuances of the profession.
Do not forget that when working with filler wire, its composition and the composition of the cart metal must be the same, which will ensure the creation of strong welds. Subsequently, minor sanding of the seams is allowed for the beauty of the product.
After assembling the main structure, it is necessary to provide access to the bottom in order to weld the wheels, and the mounting method must be selected in accordance with the weight and carrying capacity of the cart.
The homemade welding cart is ready, it turned out to be reliable and economical. If you want to paint the structure, it is recommended to use spray paint.
The welding machine trolley is a complete mobile station for the welder’s working tool. You can purchase a ready-made one in a store, saving time, or you can make it yourself from leftover pipes and plates and become the owner of a unique design. The main thing is to approach this issue with the utmost care, and also not to load the cart beyond its useful capacity.
Technical data
Manufacturers market several basic types of welding trolleys. Their main dimensions are determined by the dimensions of the welding machine and gas cylinder.
Typical parameters look like this:
- weight: 12-15 kg;
- overall dimensions: 1.25x0.35x0.71 m
- size of the platform for the device: 0.28x.45 m.
These parameters are specified based on the capacity and number of cylinders with which the mobile post needs to be equipped, as well as the selected layout.
The most popular are two of them:
- two-wheeled layout , a large-capacity cylinder is placed vertically, the platform for the device is located above the axis and parallel to it;
- three- or four-wheeled layout , dimensions are determined by the dimensions of the platform for the welder, cylinders of small or medium capacity are placed under the platform.
Two-wheeled options are created on the basis of a standard trolley for transporting 40- and 50-liter gas cylinders; a bracket holding the platform for the device is welded onto their vertical handle
Three- and four-wheeled models are created on the basis of mobile tool cabinets, to which cylinder mounts are added on the side or bottom.
To increase convenience and improve the working conditions of the welder, the cart is equipped with compartments for storing small tools, reels for winding and storing hoses and wires, etc.
Application
The cylinder should not be kept near an open flame or subjected to shock or strong shaking.
The trolley for a 50 l gas cylinder is the most popular among similar products. Carts are used for convenient transportation of gas cylinders of any size. Such devices have a solid base and a special shape, which allows you to securely attach any cylinder to the cart (this is their difference from garden carts).
With the help of a special lock, the cylinder is securely fixed on the trolley , after which it can be put into a passenger car without any extra effort, where, thanks to the trolley, the cylinder will not be able to roll around the cabin. The cylinder will not be difficult to transport by simply pushing the cart.
Due to its small size, the device allows maneuvering in narrow spaces, which is especially important if the gas cylinder is used by a welder at a construction site or needs to be moved frequently in a warehouse.
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Technological components
For the manufacture of trolleys, a metal profile of round or rectangular cross-section is used. For the platform, steel sheets, expanded metal mesh or a transverse set of corners are used. The blanks are welded together, then cleaned and painted with powder paints to protect the structural elements from corrosion.
If the device is used in enclosed spaces with a flat floor, cast wheels of small diameter are usually used. If you plan to go outside, choose pneumatic rollers with a larger diameter that can handle potholes and other obstacles.
The trolley must be equipped with a device that prevents its independent movement. For two-wheelers, this is a heel support; for three- or four-wheelers, wheels with a built-in pressure brake are used.
DIY trolley
It is made from sections of round or profile pipes, metal plates and corners. In general, from what is at hand. Most often, in home-made structures, a profile pipe with a cross-section of 40×25 mm is used for the frame, and 20×20 for other elements. It is not worth borrowing cart drawings from the public domain as a guide. It is better to use them as a sample when drawing up your sketch with dimensions corresponding to the existing equipment.
Making a cart begins with cutting the workpieces using a grinder or a hacksaw. Burrs are removed from the ends. First of all, the frame is welded, and then the inverter mounting brackets, the platform for the cylinder, and the shelf. If welds are made using filler wire, it must match the composition of the metal being welded.
The finished structure is placed on its side and prepared plates with wheels are welded to the bottom. If the frame is strong enough, then the wheels can be welded directly to it. All seams are cleaned with a grinder or grinder attachment. The structure is covered with a primer and, after it dries, painted with enamel. If welding work is to be performed at a considerable distance from the power supply, the cart should be equipped with a drum extension cord, which is easy to make with your own hands.
Additional requirements
Depending on the characteristics of the technological process that will be provided using the trolley, additional requirements for its design may be put forward, for example:
- additional shelf for placing a water cooling device;
- additional places for cylinders;
- hangers for replaceable burners;
- waterproof cups for storing rod electrodes;
- oil and acid resistant wheels.
For outdoor use, a casing can be added to protect the equipment from the elements.
Execution options
There are many options for the design of trolleys for semi-automatic welding machines.
Some of them are designed to transport only the apparatus, but more popular models are those that simultaneously transport a gas cylinder or cylinders, and all other items necessary for welding.
Two-wheeled options, made on the basis of a trolley for transporting cylinders, are distinguished by the greatest load capacity and maneuverability ; thanks to the large volume of gas cylinders, they provide greater autonomy. They are also distinguished by greater maneuverability and maneuverability.
Three- and four-wheeled models can only move on a flat floor or asphalt; even a 10-centimeter bump or high step can become an insurmountable obstacle for them. To increase maneuverability, the front wheel (or wheels) are made swivel. The main advantage of such structures is their high stability, ease of operation and access to contents.
Drawings of homemade welding trolleys
Any self-respecting master will definitely do something in his own way. Those who work in welding have experience with homemade structures, but drawings of standard structures will make the work easier.
This sketch shows the main dimensions of a simple trolley for transporting a gas cylinder. Of course, it can be adjusted if necessary.
This design is a little more complicated, and the drawing is more complete. There is an asterisk above size 305, which is the size for reference.
In this case, the cylinder is securely fastened and protected. This cart can be considered a professional option.
It happens that it is necessary to transport two cylinders at the same time, usually oxygen and propane. The third wheel is small in size and works as a stop in a stationary position of the trolley, which can be moved.
Source
Features of two-wheel design
The platform supporting the cylinder from below is made in such a way that it turns into a stand and support for the entire structure when the cylinder is placed vertically. It also acts as a reliable brake.
The two-wheeled trolley for transporting semi-automatic weapons has two positions -
- working, when the base is on the ground;
- transport, when the cylinder is tilted, the base is lifted off the ground, the structure can roll on wheels.
Drawing of a frame of a two-wheeled design.
A bracket for attaching a semi-automatic machine is hung on the frame in a convenient place. The bracket for the semi-automatic machine is welded to the handle. Since the trolley tilts at an angle of up to 45° during transportation, the device is secured to the bracket with straps
Additional brackets for boxes with tools and equipment, hangers for coiled wires and other parts are welded to the handle.
Three-wheeled model
A three-wheeled trolley for a semi-automatic machine with a cylinder mount is much more convenient to use than a two-wheeled one . Free access to the device, other equipment and welding materials is provided; they do not need to be secured during transportation.
Its capacity is significantly higher than that of the two-wheeled version. It is possible to install drawers, additional shelves, cabinets, removable containers and much more.
Three-wheeled design drawing
With such a device you can transport everything you need for work to the far corner of the workshop and not have to return for every little thing you need. The convenient handle allows you to both pull the device behind you and push it forward. Swivel wheels provide sufficient maneuverability.
