Unloading of T-slot installation plates

Delivery of the installation plates to the site is carried out by a truck (trailer). It is important to choose a vehicle so that the plates fit completely in the body and do not protrude over the sides.
Unloading and movement must be performed in strict compliance with safety regulations and under the supervision of an experienced rigger. It is forbidden to drag the plates or subject them to excessive mechanical loads. Ideally, the installation of the cast iron plates should be planned directly from the truck. This option speeds up the installation time and helps avoid additional rental costs.

Since one plate weighs about five and a half tons, a 25-ton "Ivanovets" truck crane is well-suited. Its lifting capacity is sufficient to lift the plate and move it over a reasonable distance. Additionally, unloading can be performed using an overhead crane, if available in the workshop.

Important: if installation directly from the truck is not possible, a suitable unloading area must be prepared in advance. It should be a dry and clean space. It is not recommended to store the equipment outdoors, as this may lead to premature corrosion and the accumulation of dust and debris in the precision T-slots. When stacking, plates are placed in stacks of 5–6, with wooden beams between each to prevent damage to the working surface.

For lifting and moving T-slot plates during rigging operations, special devices are used — eye bolts, also called "bolts with a loop."

Instead of a regular hex head, the eye bolt has a metal ring (loop) at the end, which allows the sling or hook to attach. For heavy static and dynamic loads, eye bolts with a movable loop are used, allowing adjustment of the direction of the applied force.

Since the plate is heavy, it is designed with multiple threaded holes for eye bolts, and lifting is carried out using a multi-leg sling.