Connecting Skids Together

[Cup909]

I work in a manufacturing facility and we're mounting a robot to a semi-moveable skid so it can be moved as needed. The goal being that the robot can be moved & reconfigured to do different tasks as needed without needing to rip up concrete, etc. The skid is pretty straightforward, C channel wrap around with plate steel welded on top & fork pockets to handle movement. Robot and controller station is bolted to the plate steel.

We need to build a second skid for part storage. This skid will consist of a loading table, basic mechanism, etc. I'd like to bolt these skids together for stability purposes to ensure the system stays together during operation. For movement; I'd unbolt the skids and move them independently in order to fit through doorways. (I'm not worried about maintaining system 0 during movement.) I can't think of a way to bolt the skids together to make a smooth work platform without building a skid that requires you to bolt it together underneath the top plate. From a maintenance/assembly practice; that's annoying because I no longer have bolt access. I refuse to believe that I'm the first one to decide to bolt two skids together with the option to semi-conveniently unbolt them. What solutions am I missing?

 

[SWComposites]

mount nutplates (captive nuts) on the bottom sides of the top flanges. Then place a splice plate across the top, and bolt down thru the splice plate and flanges to the nutplates.

or instead of nutplates, just weld the nuts to the underside of the flanges.

 

[3DDave]

Skids have sides. Perhaps bolting a strip or a channel along each of the sides would work. The above mentioned nut plates, rivnuts, or the above mentioned welded-on nuts can be used on the existing skids depending on the amount of access.

If you have the money and time and take-down is required, cut keyhole slots into the skids and make a plate with matching mushroom heads; with a bit of interference fit the plate would be installed with a hammer and only need a pin to keep it from backing off. Look at how heavy duty material storage shelves are made for example sizes. The sloppier the fab, the longer the slots and key holes need to be.

 

[dvd]

Destaco may have something that could be adapted to your needs - https://www.destaco.com/clamping/manual-clamping

 

[MintJulep]

Turning the channels around so the open side of the C faces out would make it easier to apply the suggestions offered by @3DDave or @dvd.

I imagine that you've given us a simplified description of the skid. But just in case:

• Floors are rarely flat
• Welded steel things are rarely flat.
• Steel diaphragms are springy.

 

[TugboatEng]

You can't put access holes in your top plates?

 

[dvd]

Unsolicited opinion - use something like stacking caps and receiver holes in conjunction with Destaco clamps to get a mated quick connection relatively inexpensively.



Sidenote - Robots have some fairly high accelerations - is your skid going to be secured to plant floor during operation?