Jim Timber
Veteran Member
He said why, if you'd actually read the thread instead of just dumping comments on the discussion.
Mini gantry crane
- Thread starter robstaples
- Start date
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jack707
Veteran Member
Yeah Jim bite my head off will ya!
OP
robstaples
Gold Member
Sodo,
That shower in the corner was to be my eye wash until I priced the finish fittings. The coil is connected to ( worst looking thing I've done) to give me warm filtered water outside the man door or garage. Air is on the left side. Behind the eye wash wall is a full bath. I recently sprayed hydraulic fluid on my face (no pressure) and had to wait a long time for the water to get warm do to the long run-- 30 ft. Somethings get missed in the design process. I'm still thinking about aluminum revisions. Thanks all for your input.
That shower in the corner was to be my eye wash until I priced the finish fittings. The coil is connected to ( worst looking thing I've done) to give me warm filtered water outside the man door or garage. Air is on the left side. Behind the eye wash wall is a full bath. I recently sprayed hydraulic fluid on my face (no pressure) and had to wait a long time for the water to get warm do to the long run-- 30 ft. Somethings get missed in the design process. I'm still thinking about aluminum revisions. Thanks all for your input.
OP
robstaples
Gold Member
What I've learned so far from use, I need to be able to lock the trolleys in place. I'm thinking of a threaded bolt to pinch the beam. With the gantry so easy to roll, the object pulls the gantry instead of vice versi. Came up moving my mmm. Also, everyone is thinking heavy stuff, I'm thinking 200- 400 lbs stuff. My lathe is in line with the wheel path , so I'm thinking lift one end at a time and swing 6 inches. That's all I need to clear it. Thanks again for all the good insight on this forum. Rob
I'm thinking of lettering on the beam "If the winch won't do it, Don't do it". It's cap is listed at 880 lb.
I'm thinking of lettering on the beam "If the winch won't do it, Don't do it". It's cap is listed at 880 lb.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Read the thread. You made a comment about welding steel. Clearly you didn't read the thread.I commented about that. You come back AGAIN still thinking it was steel. Should have been the first clue.
About the stick vs mig......forget the process. A blanket statement that stick penetrates more than mig is an ignorant statement.
Sure, stick "can" penetrate mode with proper rod and serup and machine. But mig "can" penetrate more also. Far more to weldnig than just stick or mig.
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
It's not like that, but you clearly didn't read this thread before talking about 7018.
I'm far from a crane expert, but I have built one which successfully holds the 4,000# I designed it to and has been proof tested with closer to 5,000#. His 6x2" wheels are what I use on my runway trollies (4 per side) with urethane tires no less. They run real smooth and are load rated to 2,000# each. My bridge and runway beams are rated for a 5:1 or better safety factor even though the casters aren't. Normal working load is well under 500# and anything over 2,000# is infrequent to the point of less than one occurrence per year, so that's fine.
The comment about gravel is valid, but easily prevented with good house keeping. Urethane does handle some grit without causing a problem too. I used them because they run quieter and metal wheels on a 24' track makes some noise.
In the end, we're all second guessing this crane based on some vague photos and the OP's assessment of it's performance. We're not going to be the ones who have to use the crane or suffer the consequences of it's failure, but I do think the majority of people involved in this thread want to see the OP succeed and have a safe implement in his garage. Jumping in with "shoulda done ____" and then having it not even relevant to the materials in use is hardly beneficial to anyone.
Aluminum MIG in a structural application without a mastery of the process is asking for trouble. Welding aluminum at all in a structural application is asking for trouble. I think the OP knows why we have concerns over some of the joints, and that's part of the learning process. Better to wonder about it now than when a load is swinging at you because something cracked loose.
We got a long way without egos here, and I was pretty impressed by that. Lets get back to helping Rob get his crane going.
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
If you use the crane to winch, you'll be applying forces none of the load charts are designed to counteract. Cranes are meant to lift and set, not pull side to side.
jack707
Veteran Member
I have never seen mig used for anything structure in 14 years in field construction we have always use stick to weld the lugs on when we make a pick there is a reason why mig is not used. Sure it has its place but NOT IN STRUCTURE!.
LD1
Epic Contributor
I think you would actually be surprised. My 8" diameter wheels on my end trucks are silent. I can move the thing and you cannot hear it. Both cranes we have at work (a 7.5 ton 50' span yale and a 25 ton 60' span conoco) have metal driven wheels on 40# rail. They are VERY quiet.
Trolleys though...different story
Actually there are several reasons why mig isnt commonly used on most construction sites. But strength and lack of penetration are NOT some of the reasons why.
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
My columns were all constructed with spray-arc via mig. I bolted the connections for my trolleys to the bridge for ease of assembly more than anything.
MIG isn't used in construction because you need shielding gas and it's much harder to ensure good coverage outdoors than with a stick that burns the available oxygen at the puddle, and then there's the logistics of moving that much machine to the joint and still needing a power supply for it.
SMAW on the other hand can be done with 2 leads. That's why you see it on construction sites more.
I have seen MIG on construction projects for structural work when they're putting in elevators. Too much smoke indoors with SMAW.
MIG isn't used in construction because you need shielding gas and it's much harder to ensure good coverage outdoors than with a stick that burns the available oxygen at the puddle, and then there's the logistics of moving that much machine to the joint and still needing a power supply for it.
SMAW on the other hand can be done with 2 leads. That's why you see it on construction sites more.
I have seen MIG on construction projects for structural work when they're putting in elevators. Too much smoke indoors with SMAW.
