Shop equipment layout?

[T.Hoffman]

Right now in my shop at work, most of the machines are along a wall.

Starting from the corner, there's a mill, then drill press, then lathe. Here's a pic from a couple of years ago, still same general layout.
Now I'm adding another mill and a larger LeBlond Regal lathe to this:



As with every shop, space is limited. To the left of the picture behind the benches is a parts storage area, this is all part of a larger room. I wish I could take over the whole thing, but that is not happening. There is no wall to the left of the benches so I'm hoping I can slided them back a ways, but I'm having a hard time getting a little more room for the new equipment.

I need to stay in this corner of the room, but I think I can "expand" my corner somewhat. Thinking of putting the new lathe where the benches are, and the new mill just to the left of this pic. If the lathe would be where the benches are now, I could take one bench and put it perpedicular on the end of the lathe. Having those benches around there is handy.

Or the new mill where the benches are and the lathe across from the Griz lathe.

Is it normal to put one mill across from the other mill, and one lathe across from the other? Any benefits from doing it one way or the other?

[T.Hoffman]

Here's a couple other views to give more of an idea of what I have to work with. There's a large cement column across from the Grizz. Door to the shop is in the corner of the room to the left of the grey electrical panels:



We currently have four benches, two back-to-back, with a couple of grinders and arbor presses on the backside area. You can see the general storage room area goes on behind the benches.



The little green jet mill is new to our shop recently, it's nice and for its size and I do like it for little things, but I'm not turning down a free BP with DRO.
The Griz lathe is bolted down to the cement and leveled nicely, so I'd rather not move that although it would be the best place for the new larger lathe....
So was thinking I could put the BP where that little green jet mill is and the lathe where the closest two benches are. Move that big grey cabinet, and put one bench across the end of the lathe.

This is the first time I've had 'multiples' of any sort of machining equipment, so just looking for input on effecient layout or other things to consider. There are times when we have multiple users down there at once.

[Gravy]

After I narrow down layout possibilities on paper, I have had good luck with making crude full-scale mockups from cardboard boxes. Costs next to nothing and easily moved to refine placement. I've found that several promising layouts had major unforeseen problems that way.

[BMW Rider]

My current plan is to cram everything in wherever there is an inch of space. I'm hoping to build on to the shop in the spring pending approval of the permits. At that time I'll be a bit better able to organise and plan a layout.

[chipmaker4130]

Nice shop! Don't worry about what's 'normal' in machine placement. It seems one often needs to move a piece between a lathe and a mill, not so much between a lathe and another lathe. In a shop where walking between machines isn't a problem, I look first for clearance around machines, both for handling overhanging stock and for cleaning/maintenance. I went so far as to position my lathe, mill and dp so that they could help support long stock from each other. If you really think the best place for your new lathe is where the old one is, move the old one! A little more work now, possiby a lot more convenient later.

Gordon

[T.Hoffman]

If you really think the best place for your new lathe is where the old one is, move the old one! A little more work now, possiby a lot more convenient later.

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning in that direction.... Where the Grizz lathe is now, it is a nice lathe placement bewteen cement colums on the wall. You can see one of them on the wall in the first pic. With the griz there, it is not taking advantage of all the space between those wall columns. The larger LeBlond would be a much better fit there.

This is the incoming LeBlond:


And the incoming BP:

[Video Man]

I have an ordinary two-car garage; I put my workbench and storage on one wall, with the lathe and mill back-to-back in the middle of the room. I seldom have to access the back of either, and they fit compactly together, leaving room on the other wall for tool cabinets, surface grinder and welder.

[daryl bane]

My layout ideas which have changed over the years, now seem to favor having benches and storage against the walls, with the machines out in the middle. It just seems easier to clean and better access. When the lathe or mill is against the wall, there is always major collections of crap that gather back there that elude the broom.

[T.Hoffman]

When the lathe or mill is against the wall, there is always major collections of crap that gather back there that elude the broom.

Even though I've encroached on more space, I've always left a healthy 'broom width' behind all the machines just for making cleanup a bit easier. Glad I've done it too.

[danlb]

When possible, I arrange things to share "walking space". Since my room is even more limited than yours, I've resorted to putting some things on wheels and I move them to an empty spot to use them. The bandsaw, for instance is between my 5 foot tall "little green mill" (just like your model) and the 9x20 lathe. I have to move the saw about 10 inches to use the full travel of the mill's table.

I'd avoid sacrificing the bench space, since if you do you might find yourself using the machines as ad hoc work surfaces.

Dan