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Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

(OP)
I am a mechanical engineer (thermo/fluids, process system, component design) that has been assigned some additional duties.  I was wondering if any structural or industrial engineers could point me towards some good resources regarding the following topics:

1) Pallet Rack Design:  Specifically interested in how to calculate maximum permissible loads per level/per bay for given beam heights/configurations.  I already have a copy of the RMI spec, however it appears I am missing some basic information regarding how to calculate forces/moments in the frame supports/uprights/bracing.

2) Workbench Design:  I need to design a workbench that has a required capacity of ~10,000 to 20,000 lbs.  Typically I would assume that this type of thing would just be 'overdesigned', however since I have little experience in this respect, I'm unsure how to assess whether or not the bench has been adequately overdesigned.  Can anyone direct me to resources where I could find the types of evaluations a structure like this would require?

Or perhaps someone could direct me to a forum where this post might be more appropriate?

RE: Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

Pallet Rack Design:  this can be as simple as looking at the spec sheets / catalogs of pallet rack vendors since they all have load ratings (weight / square foot or equivalent).  Purchase the rack components that you need to meet your loading requirements.

Bench design:  this can be simple mechanical design, too, as long as you verify your numbers are correct.  Pull out your old design texts or use a Machinery's Handbook for the formulas.  Sketch out a welded fabrication design using standard structural steel shapes.  You'll have to analyze the column loading and beam bending loads.  Then add a hefty factor of safety.  For a full design, you must spec the welds, also.  A good fab shop can throw it together, paint it, and deliver it.  Like some crusty old guy told me years ago:  "Steel is cheap, use plenty of it."

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com

RE: Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

(OP)
Thanks warehousedegn, a very useful link; Also found good information on your company website!

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