I am eagerly awaiting my Maslow 4 and planning for its use in scenic construction at our local community theater (I live in a 670 square foot condo, so I won’t be using it at home).
The theater is happy to help, but the footprint of a vertical frame is too big for the space available. We can’t set anchors in the stage surface (the only space large enough to build on), but if I could build a collapsible frame for the anchors with a little lift for the workpiece, it could all store nicely and still be very useful. Thoughts/ideas/inspirations?
I posted before about a frame that could be assembled with a pair of hollow core
doors and a couple of 2x4s. in a theater environment, I’ll bet you could
make/find some panels that could be used for this and be used for other things
as well.
I’m thinking about a collapsible frame, too. I have nowhere to store an 8x10ft frame, so I’ve been looking into T-slot extruded aluminum. There are a few comments on the forums about it, one recommending 25mm minimum. The web site says the steel strut channel frame isn’t recommended because steel is springy–I think the aluminum t-slot will fare better. Just the matter of cost My idea is to recreate the 2x4 wood frame, but using 25mm x 25mm T-slot and gusseted corner braces. I’d love a cheaper option, though!
No idea if this would help, but I was planning to use a Bora Centipede with either 2x or braced/box beamed sheet good outriggers for my setup. I’m in a somewhat similar situation with limited dedicated space or storage options and a desire to take the M4 to site specific jobs, so a collapsible platform is the goal. The Bora Centipede is not the most DIY or cost effective option for sure, but its is a stellar platform for breaking down sheet materials and most carcass assembly work, so there is that use as well.
My M4 is hopefully a day or so out, and I will soon be testing these ideas. It also may be worth a look at some Paulk-style torsion boxes. Those could take outriggers or be assembled as modules to get you the scale you need. So many ways to slice it…
My idea is to recreate the 2x4 wood frame, but using 25mm x 25mm T-slot and gusseted corner braces. I’d love a cheaper option, though!