Machine base — what your machine stands on

Take a moment to take a look around your workshop, assembly hall or production hall. What do you see? Take a look at the machines. What do your machines stand on? What does the machine base look like? Are there any differences?

You see — each machine is mounted differently because the machine base also has a function to fulfil. For one machine, it may be important to reduce vibrations, for the other machine to be mobile, and for the third machine to stand securely and not to tip over or slip away.

Possible machine base types

In the following you see a few possibilities listed, on which machines can be placed.

• Machine feet
• Wheels and castors
• Anti-vibration mounts
• Leveling casters
• Lifting systems
• Wedge shoes and adjusting wedges
• and many more …

Choice of machine base is central

When designing or purchasing a machine, some attention should be paid to the machine base and not only to the pure function of the machine. When considering the machine base, a few points should be taken into account (not an exhaustive list):

• safe standing
• Mobility and flexibility
• Vibrations and shocks
• Ground conditions on which the machine stands
• Assembly effort of the machine
• Maintenance work on the machine
• Cleaning the machine
• Cleaning of the workplace, respectively the floor

For the quality of the machine it is crucial to include the machine substructure in the design phase.

Early planning of the machine base

As described above, the machine base is central, also for the function of the machine. Plan this in good time and order the required parts in good time. Perhaps a test series with different machine feet, rollers or lifting rollers is also necessary before the final shipment of the machine to the customer.