Snapshots of our shop and volunteers

Metal-cutting Bandsaw

The first station to be seen upon entering our shop door is the Metal-cutting Bandsaw. This tool is used to cut all our metal stock into the pieces needed to build metal tractor parts and cart frames.  We typically have two volunteers to operate the saw, one to feed material into the saw, and the second to operate the saw. The upper half of the saw is lifted up to feed material under the upraised blade.  Then the blade is lowered and the is saw powered on.  At this point the blade drops slowly by gravity as the saw cuts the metal.

 

Assembly of cart body and seat

Next in line, after the bandsaw, are workstations 1 through 5 along the wall on your left.

Station 1 – Box Back assembly,

Station 2 – Seat assembly,

Station 3 – Seat Back assembly,

Station 4 – Cart Body assembly, and

Station 5 – Cart floor assembly.

The seats are forwarded to the Upholstery Bench and the assembled cart body is forwarded to Station 6, the Cart Framing Station.

Assembly of Frame to cart body

Station 6 in the next photo shows a cart body inverted with a steel frame placed on it.  The frame is aligned to the body and holes are bored through the cart floor and the frame is bolted to the cart body.  Station 6 also completes the assembly of the side joiner boards to the cart body with various nuts, bolts, and washers. In the background behind the Framing station is temporary cart body storage (waiting for frames) and the Upholstery (Station 7) with temporary seat / seat back storage (waiting for upholstery).

Upholstery

The Upholstery bench is where seat and seat back cushions are constructed.  A block of foam and a small amount of carpet padding are covered with a top-quality durable vinyl upholstery.  An air-powered staple gun is used to drive staples into the cushion mount, thus completing the cushion.  The cushion, with its mounting are then attached to the seat or seat back with bolts.

Small Parts and supplies storage

    Our supply of metal parts, ready-to-assemble, are stored in the shop.  Not shown in this photo are larger parts, tractor forks and pedal posts with cranks assembled, and front wheels.  These parts / components are stored in various available spaces in the shop.    

Tractor Assembly

The Tractor Bench shown here has two mounting points to allow for the assembly of two tractors at the same time.  One point has a tractor on it and the other to the right side of the bench is currently empty.  All supplies and parts for building a tractor are easily at hand in the bins above and below the bench. Once the tractor is completed and tested, it is taken to the “warehouse” next door to the shop space and placed on a rolling “tractor rack”, ready to pack for shipping.

    This method of storing tractors allows us to move them around the “warehouse” as we re-configure the space for various activities. The tractors can be positioned for easy access to the packing area when it comes time to pack carts.            

Warehouse, Metal storage, Painting, and Packing

Cart Storage – Ready to Pack

 

  Cart bodies with frames attached are stored in our “warehouse” until they are packed for shipping.  The packing area is immediately behind the camera’s position and the rolling tractor rack is to the right of the camera’s position. Wheels are packed with the cart, tractor, and seat for assembly at the distribution point prior to being delivered to the receipient.    

Warehouse Ready for Packing

Our “warehouse” area is, out of necessity, re-configured at times to open up our packing table (right foreground) and make accessible palletized stacks of packaged carts. Not shown in this photo is our paint booth (not constructed at the time of the photo). The Paint booth now resides in the corner behind where the tractor rack is positioned in this photo.

 

Paint Booth

This Photo shows our Paint Booth, paint equipment clean-up table and metal pieces and parts storage on the left. The Paint Booth is separated from the rest of the Warehouse and Storage / Packing areas by the yellow curtain.  A high-capacity ventilation system removes fumes from the Paint Booth preventing the fumes from spreading throughout the Warehouse space. Dan, our volunteer painter wears protective gear and filter masking also.   Inside the Paint Booth moveable metal racks provide adjustable hanging space for spray painting.  Once painted, the racks with parts are moved to a drying area (photo on right) outside the Paint Booth.

               

 

Metal Piece and Part Storage

Small metal pieces that later make up larger metal parts are stored in shelf mounted bins.  Parts that are heavier are stored in containers on the floor.  The parts, having been delivered by volunteer welders, are ready for cleaning then painting.  These parts ready for painting are just outside the Paint Booth for easy accessibility.  (Reference the first Paint Booth photo above)

 

Dean – One of our welders

  Due to limitations of our current facility, we are unable to weld in our shop space.  Therefore, we have volunteers who weld for us at their own locations. The happy guy in the right of this photo is Dean, one of our welders.  he will communicate with us regularly to schedule a visit to the shop in order to deliver welded parts and take metal pieces ready for welding with him.  We owe Dean a debt of gratitude for his work in support of Mobility Worldwide.  Thank you, Dean! Also in the photo are “Doc”, left foreground, and John, back center.    

Charlie & Sandy – Welding and wood parts

Charlie and his wife, Sandie, travel periodically from La Crescent, MN to deliver wood cart body pieces and welded metal.  Taking home with them more metal pieces to weld into parts. Charlie donates the lumber, cuts and shapes the lumber into cart body parts and bundles the pieces neatly for transport and delivery to our shop. We are much indebted to Charlie and Sandie for their work and support of Mobility Worldwide.  Thank you, Charlie and Sandie. Once the wood is delivered, it is temporarily stored in the warehouse.  Volunteer painters, John and Jack (in photo) prime and paint the wood.  Once the paint is dry, the painted wood is moved into the shop and stored in the assembly areas.