×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

(OP)
We have a 10' long linear rail (~100lbs) which will have a 250lb load translating from one end to the other. The lifting device needs to cover a range of 1'6" to 3'6" and remain stable with the load at either end of the rail. Our first choice for operation would be manual (a crank, etc.), second choice would be electric and third would be hydraulic or pneumatic. The weight of the lift needs to be less than 200lbs if it is a single unit or if it is multiple pieces the total weight must be less than 400lbs with no individual piece exceeding 200lbs. If anyone has any ideas or experience on this subject please help. Thank you!

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

http://www.duffnorton.com

or something similar

(no affiliation)

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Can the structure extend above the rail?  Maybe a forklift type mast?

Barry1961

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

(OP)
The total height must be less than 5' and the entire unit must be able to be rolled around, but this can be a custom job added to the system.

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Search for "puller hoists" at McMaster-Carr.  Also for a pully at the top

www.mcmaster.com

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Does the lifting mechanisim also have to resist the horizontal forces associated with the acceleration and decelleration of the translating mass?

Are the any side forces?

What is the stiffness of the rail?  Will it support the load with an acceptable deflection if it is simply supported at the ends?  Cantilevered?  Supported at the middle?  

You can't solve a problem unless you understand it.

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

(OP)
The lifting mechanism must resist the horizontal forces and have very little deflection when the load is at either end.  the rail is very strong and has very very little deflection when supported from the center.  There are no side forces.

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

I have done some similar, and we used the cylinders that Mike H suggests. This looks like their new line.

http://www.duffnorton.com/products/supercyl.aspx

You can add an encoder or change the motor to gain positioning accuracy. Basically it's just a acme screw and gearbox. (which you could design yourself if you want, but why?)

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Can you use a garage door opener?  
The Chamberlain model sold at Costco has close to a 10-ft track.

TTFN



RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Rollon makes linear guide rails that are rigid but extremely forgiving of misalignment.  They do this by running deep groove ball bearings in a variety of “C” and “U” tracks.  These can run very fast and the cost is usually much less than square or round rail linear systems.  The accuracy is probably around .020” (0.5mm) which is less than square or round rail.  
Some people like these on fabricated structures because they don’t have to machine the mounting surfaces.

http://www.rollon.com/english/products/compact.htm

Barry1961

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

Npoling,
Your project sounds much like one I did.  Weights, heights and travel very much similar.  Our application was in an assembly line where a portion of the roller track needed to raise and lower.
We used a small self-contained hydraulic lift table which we anchored to the floor to control tipping from the extended track.  We built it to lock the rollers when lifted and release when lowered so units could be moved down the line.  The table with power unit weighed about 150 pounds and with the roller track installed maybe 350.  Some of the weight was due to the roller lock system which added maybe 50 lbs.
Not real fast but cost less than $2500.  There were some other features you may or may not need but this should give the general idea.

Griffy

RE: Help Needed - a vertical lift for a linear rail

[bold]npoling[/bold]

I cannot tell if you are describing a chain fall operated Budget(r) hoist on a monorail or something more elaborate.  Can you be more specific?

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources