blanchard grinding in the SE?

Anyone know of a machine shop that can blanchard grind a 4x10 sheet for me to make a ch***is table? from what I've read the normal pricing for this is under $500 but all i have found is a place in charlotte that wants $1800. I'm willing to drive to have it done. I'm by savannah ga

 

Disclaimer: I'm far from an expert.
Why are you needing this ground? Is your existing piece of metal too thick or are you grinding it to get a perfectly flat surface?
I would think that the tolerance that your plate was produced with would be more than acceptable for ch***is work, where +/- a few thousandths won't matter.
I would also think that for $1800 you could buy the steel already ground. I seem to remember a thread where someone built a whole ch***is table for $1800
If someone who knows more wants to correct my thinking please do so.

 

i can build the entire table for about $500 right now. i have the i beams and most of the other stuff i need. I'm not really sure how far off the plate would be from the mill. I have a small table 4x4 now thats made from 1/2" and its off what i would consider a pretty good amount. i would guess its off about 1'16th of an inch. I've never measured but its more than a few thousandths. its bolted down and has plenty of bracing the plate is just not right. i figure if I'm going to make the investment in building one and i can get the grinding done for another 3-400 bucks its worth it to me.

 

Where I work we have a Blanchard with a 60" chuck. For something that big, we have subbed the grinding out to a shop in New Hope, MN called Checker Machine. $1800 doesn't seem that out of line to me, but I don't know for sure.

Blue

 

How are you going to to tie the plate to the I-beams? I'd hate to see you spend large to achieve perfection in the plate then pull it out of shape when you place it on the frame which won't be perfect. I also think a 10' plate will sag under it's own weight so how are you going to handle it?

 

You did not say how thick the plate was or how your were going to attach it to some type of base/legs. Any type of welding will warp it and if you bolt it down to a base, a plate that size will easily bend to follow the top of your base frame.
The proper way to get a flat table top is to weld the whole thing up, stress releive it, then grind the top. You can buy custom machine bases made this way that have a guaranteed flatness.
As others have said, this is overkill in my opinion also.

 

How possible would it be....to check the flatness while it's bolted to it's frame.... and level it, with shims ?

Just a thought........... 4TTRUK

 

Why not ask the people who supply the plate to level it for you? Just get it close. And then build the table supports with a few jackscrews underneath, in the unsupported parts, etc, so you can check it and adjust it yourself?