Hello all. I feel a little out of place being as I am not a licensed Engineer, but I am a design tech for a firm and frequently have problems that arise in different designs.

Hope I can be forgiven for treading onto a forum of Pros! :)

My first question is actually hoping for a little direction. While I do not want anyone helping me "cheat" my education, I would love reference material to learn where to find my own answers.

So, the question:

I am designing a beam for a customer that will have a hoist attached near the end. The beam consists of (3) 2" X 8" boards. One laying flat (horizontal) on top and the other two supporting the ends (vertically). My delima is to find a web site or other source as to the calculations (AND PURPOSE BEHIND THE EQUATION!) for how much weight I can support at different places on the beam. The customer also intends to drill an "axle" for the hoist into the two vertical beams. I would like to be able to figure out how that will affect the weight capacity of the beam.

Again, I'm new, please be gentle! Thanks, in advance, for any and all assistance!

Read any book about structural mechanics, stress analysis, or otherwise named book, and you will find your answers.
If you do go ahead with your beam design then please ensure you have incorporated a hefty safety factor in it, and make sure your design is analsyed properly, and checked by the relevent people. As you said in you post your a little green, read all you can about the subject.

Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers

is considered the bible by some.

40818 (Aerospace), Thanks for the input. I feel I need to put out that nothing leaves this office without a backcheck from a stamp-holding engineer. I was looking for a little more independence from asking my engineer questions all the time.

Thanks for your answer!

Nothing is ever wrong about asking for help/guidance. Theres only 1 person who i met that truly did know everything. The rest of us need help from time to time, thats why this forum is good.

40818 (Aerospace)   I've been hanging around here for a while, picking up anything and everything I can. I felt it was time to post a specific question regarding a design I'm playing with.

Thanks again!