Thread: Looking for a light duty mobile lifting column

Originally Posted by RayG

Lifting heavy chucks, rotary tables and faceplates, not to mention machine parts for scraping.

Has become a two man job these days, so I'm researching what options are available for lifting up to 100 kg or so.

I reckon there should be a light duty version of the mobile automotive lifting column. Something like this..



But lighter, maybe with a linear actuator for the lifting part..

I remember GQ had a thing he got from Bosch that would be close to what I'm looking for..

A companion die trolley, or hydraulic lift trolley would work nicely I think?

Any ideas short of jib and gantry cranes?

Ray

I have a disabled person lifter, sort of like a scaled down engine crane but only rated for 150 kg (might be 120 kg). Folds up nicely too.

Works great for putting chucks, RT's etc in position.

Mine was free...

The hydraulic scissor lift tables are great if you can afford one or find a used one at the right price.

I've also welded up 4 or 5 mobile platforms/work stations all the same size & height - 1200 x 600 and 750mm high. I use them all the time for moving stuff about but you have to be careful as the disease attracting stuff to horizontal surfaces still operates.

PDW

Some time ago I designed a sissor lift table for one of our members which you may be able to adapt.

See here https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ht=sissor+lift

If you would like drawings pm me your email address

Ken

Hi PDW,

Thanks for the idea, I wouldn't have looked for disabled people handling, I'm guessing you have something like this.




Something like that could be modified engine crane...

Hi Ken,

I like your bike lift design https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...196#post726196 Nice one ..

I'd want a trolley version, basicall a smaller bike lift on wheels.. so I could use the lift to put it on the trolley and then crank the trolley to the height of the storage shelf and wheel away..

Ray

I have an ebay scissor lift platform in my shed - good for around 150kg. Another option is something like this -
103250_700x700.jpg
(US supplier, image grabbed from the 'net) or an Australian variant -
http://www.sitecraft.net.au/material...-lifters.html/

I find that provided I'm not using my scissor lift as a storage trolley it also makes a very handy adjustable height table or work platform. Not as sturdy as a solid item but good for leaving tools on, small parts and even supporting long stock while one end is being worked on.

Michael

If you like the style of the first one you posted, could you not knock something similar up using one of those cheapo '250kg' electric hoists off Ebay as the drive for it? Stick some folding legs on it like an engine crane, and away you go.

failing that, this came up on a quick search, thought it was an interesting approach, would depend on how low you need to go, and how much you wanted to use it to position whatever you're doing...

http://www.e-rackonline.com/store/lifts/1-2-or-4-post-hydraulic-lift-tables/#gsc.tab=0

Also found this, probably a bit heavier and bigger than you wanted, but you might have other uses for it?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111340466157

G/day Ray, bit of a problem that you have with that sort of thing is the wheels don't often go under heavy machines, this leave you too short to mount a heavy chuck or the like.
If you extend anything heavy beyond the front wheels it will tip over with weight of the object unless it has a counter balance.
I solved the problem of changing the 4 jaw on my macson by getting another lathe, for the mill I use an engine crane to lift items onto a small bench with wheels and adj table height to suit.
When I have a had a heavy lump to put into the lathe I used a forklift, it chews up a bit of floor space most of the time but there is no way I would part with it.
One day I would like to put a jib of some type between the mill and macson, to solve your problem you might need a jib and a little scissor lift.

shed

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi PDW,

Thanks for the idea, I wouldn't have looked for disabled people handling, I'm guessing you have something like this.

Yes, that's basically it. Works well within its limitations; sometimes you can't get the jib where you need it.

Fixed reasonably light capacity swinging boom cranes off of a vertical support, strategically placed, are another aid. I'm going to build some in various spots, max capacity approx 250 kg.

A small fork lift would be nice.

PDW

Yeah its hard to beat a forklift. Even tho my tractor will only lift about 500 Kg on the FEL forks, I wouldnt be without it.

How would a monorail go with a chain block (if your roof frame is up to it)? If your machines were set up in a line, chucks and heavy chunks of metal could be lifted with ease, taking up no floor space etc.
Kryn

Anything from here any good?

http://www.genieindustries.com.au/pr...material-lifts

I saw these at a trade show I thought they were "the solution" Or do like we do at work make a trolley the safe height as the table and slide the accessories off

Hare and Forbes sell the Skyhook on its' own

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/A358

shouldn't be that hard to knock up a trolley for it.

They also have a chuck hook for it and some other bits.

Thanks for all the suggestions.. A forklift would be perfect if I had the room, I like the idea of a monorail, I have two rows of machines to navigate, so a gantry would work if the roof was higher.

But the sky hook style that Andre posted looks like the go, change the fixed height table to a hydraulic scissor lift, and make provision for a counter weight, electric linear actuator to control the lift

and the design starts to take shape..

Ray

Someone on the forum has a skyhook dont they?
I wonder how easy it would be to use for pulling chucks on a lathe, though its got to be better than lifting them.
Wouldnt a lever block on the end of the arm be easier?

Stuart