Our shops tornado plan: Into the CNC lathe!

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05-16-2007, 07:08 AM
cacrawfo

Our shops tornado plan: Into the CNC lathe!

My shop is a in a pole barn out in the middle of a cornfield in Illinois. Today we got a severe weather advisory, and I barely was able to get the sliding door shut before the wind and sideways rain came down on us. Blew pretty bad for awhile, and I got to thinking what I would do if we got a tornado out here...

Then it hit me!

I'll climb my happy ass into the 13,000lb Ikegai lathe! There is a nice spot for me inbetween the X-slide and the ways for the hydraulic tailstock. I could lay completely down in the chip area and wait it out.... I don't think any tornado is going to pick up a chunk of iron like that!

Any thoughts?
Carl C
05-16-2007, 08:13 AM
ajmoir

If it's bolted down it might be alright.

My advice, start digging.
05-16-2007, 02:05 PM
Geof

Turn the power off first, you don't want a bit of flying debris pushing the green button with you in there :) .

I'm on the west coast, when I had lathes it was possible to crawl under they were my planned earthquake refuge; I don't think your idea is a nutty as it sounds.
05-16-2007, 04:43 PM
ImanCarrot

Quote:

Turn the power off first, you don't want a bit of flying debris pushing the green button with you in there

Eeeek! that just don't bear thinking about! Well said Geoff.

Also.. you might want a crate of beer in there, would make the time pass a bit easier :)

I used to work in an old munitions factory which had a bomb proof cellar which was used during air raids in WW2- it was used as storage after the war and the amount of stuff you could "discover" down there was amazing!
05-21-2007, 04:12 AM
gmfoster

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacrawfo

My shop is a in a pole barn out in the middle of a cornfield in Illinois. Today we got a severe weather advisory, and I barely was able to get the sliding door shut before the wind and sideways rain came down on us. Blew pretty bad for awhile, and I got to thinking what I would do if we got a tornado out here...

Then it hit me!

I'll climb my happy ass into the 13,000lb Ikegai lathe! There is a nice spot for me inbetween the X-slide and the ways for the hydraulic tailstock. I could lay completely down in the chip area and wait it out.... I don't think any tornado is going to pick up a chunk of iron like that!

Any thoughts?
Carl C

Well they have been known to move train locomotives off the track, but the lathe would be better than nothing...
garry