Equipment Dollies
T-slot aluminum equipment dollies for moving machine tools, production cells, capital equipment, and assembly systems during facility rearrangements and installation. Low-profile frames, integrated leveling feet, forklift pocket provisions, and verified load ratings designed around the base dimensions and weight of the specific equipment being moved.
Why Choose Modular Solutions for Equipment Dollies?
Machine tools and capital equipment require a transport solution designed around the specific base geometry — not an improvised pallet and caster arrangement.
Designed Around the Machine Base
Equipment dollies are sized to the specific machine base footprint with support rails positioned to carry the machine at its designed contact points. This eliminates unsupported overhangs that could deform sheet metal base pans or damage leveling bolt locations.
Low-Profile for Limited Clearance
Low-profile frame designs with 3-inch to 4-inch casters achieve minimum deck heights for machines with limited clearance beneath the base frame. Profile and caster selection are coordinated to achieve the required clearance while maintaining the necessary load capacity.
Leveling Feet for Operation-Ready Staging
Screw-adjustable leveling feet alongside each caster allow the equipment dolly to transition between transport mode and staged operation mode without unloading the machine. The machine can be leveled and shimmed on the dolly for temporary operation during layout evaluation or commissioning.
Forklift Pockets for Facility Repositioning
Forklift pocket provisions allow the loaded equipment dolly to be repositioned by facility forklift without requiring the machine to be disconnected and lifted separately. Pocket dimensions and positions are designed for your facility forklift tine specification.
Reusable Across Machine Families
T-slot frame construction allows support rail positions and stop block locations to be reconfigured for different machine bases after the first machine move is complete. Equipment dollies can serve multiple machines over their service life, reducing the cost per move significantly.
Protection for Floor Finishes
Large-diameter soft-tread casters and distributed load design protect coated, sealed, and epoxy floor surfaces during equipment moves. Caster tread compounds and floor loading calculations are reviewed against your specific floor finish requirements before dollies are specified.
Key Features & Benefits
Mechanical details that make equipment moves faster, safer, and less disruptive to production schedules.
Low-Profile Caster Options
3-inch and 4-inch diameter low-profile casters are used for machines with very limited base clearance. Higher-capacity options in the same low-profile range are selected based on the machine weight divided by the caster count, with appropriate safety factor applied.
Machine Base Adapter Frames
For machines with unusual base geometries, cast feet, or integrated leveling pad arrangements, adapter sub-frames are designed to interface between the machine base and the dolly support rails. Adapter frames bring the machine contact points to a common support plane without modifying the machine base.
Screw-Adjustable Leveling Feet
Leveling feet with 1-inch to 2-inch vertical adjustment allow the machine to be leveled at the staging location without removing it from the dolly. Level indicator pads with reference marks allow precise leveling to production tolerances.
Anti-Tip Support Arms
For tall machines with a high center of gravity, anti-tip outrigger arms provide lateral stability during transport. Outrigger arms bolt to the T-slot frame and can be removed after the machine is installed in its permanent location.
Cable and Hose Management
T-slot frames allow cable management clips, conduit brackets, and hose clamps to be mounted at any position. This allows temporary electrical and pneumatic connections to be routed cleanly during commissioning while the machine remains on the dolly.
Corrosion-Resistant Construction
Anodized aluminum frames, stainless steel fasteners, and corrosion-resistant caster bearings are available for equipment moves in humid, chemical-exposure, or outdoor staging environments where standard construction would deteriorate during storage between moves.
Common Applications
Used across manufacturing, semiconductor, medical device, and precision instrument industries for capital equipment management.
- CNC Machine Tool Relocation - Equipment dollies for moving CNC machining centers, turning centers, and grinders during facility layout changes without machine disassembly or crane-intensive rigging.
- Production Cell Rearrangement - Dollies that move complete production cells — including conveyors, assembly stations, and test fixtures — as a single unit during lean layout reconfiguration.
- Capital Equipment Installation - Temporary equipment dollies used during capital equipment installation commissioning, allowing the machine to be repositioned during layout fine-tuning before final anchor installation.
- Semiconductor Equipment Moves - Low-profile, vibration-isolated equipment dollies for moving precision semiconductor process equipment — etch tools, deposition chambers, and metrology systems — across fab floors.
- Precision Instrument Transport - Equipment dollies with vibration-isolated mounting and anti-tip provisions for moving optical comparators, CMM systems, surface grinders, and metrology equipment.
- Laboratory Equipment Repositioning - Equipment dollies for moving laboratory autoclaves, centrifuges, and large analytical instruments during lab renovation and reconfiguration projects.
Specifications & Configurations
Standard design ranges for equipment dollies. Specifications are engineered to match the machine base dimensions and weight.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frame Profile | 45 Series to 90 Series T-slot aluminum depending on machine weight |
| Load Capacity | 1,000 lb to 10,000 lb depending on frame and caster specification |
| Platform Size | Custom to machine base footprint |
| Deck Height | 3 in. minimum with low-profile casters; standard range 4 in. to 8 in. at deck |
| Caster Options | 3 in. to 10 in. diameter; soft tread for floor protection; brake options |
| Leveling Feet | Screw-adjustable feet alongside each caster; 1 in. to 2 in. vertical adjustment |
| Forklift Pockets | Custom to facility tine dimensions; load-rated at full payload |
| Anti-Tip Options | Outrigger arms for tall or high-CG equipment; removable after installation |
| Lead Time | 3 to 5 weeks from approved design |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about equipment dollies from Modular Solutions.
How low-profile can equipment dollies be made?
Equipment dollies can be built as low as 3 to 4 inches total height at the deck surface using low-profile casters and minimal frame section height. This is necessary for equipment that has very limited clearance beneath the base frame. Profile selection, caster diameter, and mounting geometry are all coordinated to achieve the minimum deck height while maintaining the required load capacity.
Can equipment dollies be used under machines that are still running?
Equipment dollies are typically used to move machines during facility rearrangements, installation, or maintenance — not while the machine is operating. For semi-permanent repositioning applications where the machine needs to be movable but is normally stationary, we design equipment dollies with leveling feet that raise the machine off the casters for operation and lower back onto casters for movement.
How do leveling feet integrate with equipment dolly casters?
Screw-adjustable leveling feet are mounted at the dolly corners alongside the casters. When extended, the leveling feet contact the floor and raise the dolly slightly, lifting the casters clear. When retracted, the casters return to floor contact for movement. This allows the equipment on the dolly to be precisely leveled and vibrationally isolated on the leveling feet for operation, then lowered back to casters for repositioning.
Are equipment dollies reusable across different machine sizes?
T-slot construction allows equipment dollies to be reconfigured for different machine footprints by adjusting locating stop positions and changing caster patterns. If the new machine is significantly different in weight or footprint, an engineering review is needed to confirm the original frame and caster specification is adequate. For facilities that regularly move a family of similar-sized machines, one dolly design can typically serve multiple machines in the family.
What vibration isolation options are available for sensitive equipment transport?
For sensitive equipment transport where vibration during movement could damage precision components, anti-vibration mounts and resilient caster suspension options are available. Isolation pads between the machine base and the dolly deck attenuate floor vibration transmitted through the casters. For precision optical, measurement, and semiconductor equipment, specialized transport carts with active or passive isolation systems are designed on a case-by-case basis.
Ready to Move Your Equipment?
Provide your machine name, base dimensions, total weight, floor clearance, and forklift requirements. Our engineers will design an equipment dolly matched to your machine and facility conditions.
Modular Solutions — 4280 Giddings Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326