Upgrade Weight Capacity of Pallet Decoiler

[oxicottin]

Hello, I just want some guidance on how we can upgrade our current decoiler. The decoiler is rated for 5,000 lbs and we need to raise the weight capacity to 8,000 -10,000lbs. The steel platform or decoiler top is 1” thick and the platform is 48”X48”. The motor that turns the platform is 5hp. I work for our maintenance department an am not an engineer so what other information is needed? The units we have ar not made any more due to the company going out of business. Thanks!

 

[dhengr]

You really have to study the details of the gear box which drives and supports the decoiler. When you double to load on the machine, I suspect that a thrust bearing in the gear box, which supports the whole load, will be an issue, maybe the shaft too. I don’t understand the bent plate which is the rotating platform of this machine, why is it bent up at the corners? This could be a problem with the greater loads. The pictures are good as a means of showing the overall machine, but now you will have to start showing and studying the details of how the machine is built, if you want a solution that will work.

 

[oxicottin]

dhengr,

I’m not sure what you mean by bent plate? If you’re referring to the platform that the pallet of steel sits on then it is flat and may appear bent up at corners in the picture. I have talked to our parts guy and we cannot locate the purchase order it must have got lost when we went to a MP2 system to log parts so I will have to search the unit for a label but I’m almost positive there isn’t one. If you can help me narrow down what exactly we need to be able to UP the load on this unit I will give what I can and details I can on the parts for the unit including pictures if needed. Thoughts?

 

[oxicottin]

dhengr I got the motor information:

[URL unfurl="true"]www.BostGear.com[/URL]
Input H.P. 5.59
Cat No. 738B205B9J4
Output Torque - 3488
Ratio 2.0
1-888-999-9860

 

[dhengr]

You really have to start to delve into how that machine is actually built, show some sketches and details. And, you will have to know some of the specifics of the motor and the gear box. O.K., I see, maybe the 48x48x1" plate (your platform) isn’t bent up, now that I look at it closer. It supports the 5k of coils (or your proposed 10k of coils). It, in turn, is supported by some structure and likely a thrust bearing, like a lazy Susan on your kitchen table. Then the motor and the gear box provide the rotational power (torque) to start and stop and rotate the platform during the decoiling process. With the added weight, these may not be powerful enough to rotate the table, and you must determine that. With the heavier loads the 1" plate may have bending problems, and need to be beefed up. With lighter loads it could be that the gear box and an internal, or integral, trust bearing supported the platform pl., I can’t see that from here. With the heavier loads you might want to build a small support structure, with its own thrust bearing to carry the platform pl. Then the motor and gear box just sit under this support structure, actually on its base or feet, and just provide the rotational power.

 

[dhengr]

Oxicottin:
Wake up, and smell the coffee. Don’t give me the serial number on the motor, and ask me what to do. Why would I take that and spend the time to dig deep enough to get the needed info. when there is so much else I don’t know about the whole system? You call them and ask for their help, after all they sold you the motor and gearbox, maybe the whole decoiling machine. You have to have some engineering savvy to work on a problem like this, we can help you, but we can’t do it for you. Come here with better defined questions and we may be able to help, but we won’t likely do your final engineering and design for you. And, maybe you shouldn’t be talking to your parts guy, but rather to some of the senior mechanics who keep that machine and the plant running. They will understand how it works, and have good intuitive ideas about what needs to be done, even if they can’t put the final engineering number on it.

 

[oxicottin]

ghengr, lol.... I want asking you to look up the info I gave you I wouldnt expect you to do my work for me I was merly showing you what information was on the tag as specified in your first post I can do the work I just needed guidence on what to look at ect. so I could call the manufactures who made the parts. I think you misunderstood

 

[TheTick]

Short answer--get a new (or used) unit. There is no way to tell what the limiting factors are. Maybe the motor, maybe the gearbox, may the thing that keeps it from tipping over or snapping and maiming a bystander.

 

[MikeHalloran]

If the original manufacturer went out of business because they were making their machines too good, maybe you can just put a 10,000 lb coil on it, and maybe it will work. I'm guessing you already tried that, and found problems.

If on the other hand the original manufacturer designed every part as efficiently as possible, then you are screwed, because you will have to make every part stronger, and probably larger, so you won't be able to re-use anything, not even the screws.

You can't just go ahead and make every part thicker or larger by some arbitrary factor. You have to reverse engineer what you've got, and then forward engineer a similar machine with double the capacity. Engineers can do that kind of stuff, but it's so labor intensive that it would be cheaper to just buy the machine you need, brand new.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA