Shop trolley crane system
 

I need some clarification on terminology for shop crane systems.

I'm considering the type of crane that runs along a beam from one side of the shop to the other, AND slides along a rail on the other two sides ... think a big letter "H" laid down horizontal. I'm not sure exactly what these are called, so hard to narrow down my search. Only want about a 1500 lbs limit.

The last shop I built many years ago I just bought a big I-beam supported it on posts against the wall and bought a trolley that road along the beam for the chainfall, of course it only ran in a straight line. I'm looking for something where I can cover about 2/3 of the shop space in both horizontal directions.

Of course a lot depends on the allowable spans, beam size, load capacity etc. Span of the moving trolley beam would end up being about 34- 36' ... which is a big ask probably.

Since I'm getting to be an older gentleman I want to make life as easy as possible the next couple decades.

All comments welcome (yes I realize it will be expensive)

In the Research Building, the Engine Builders for our Dyno Projects had a trolley just
like you described. Had to be 40+ years old.

Basically it had the capability to move a completed engine anywhere between 4 engine
build-up areas in the room. Room was 80 feet (left to right) when you entered the room.

Room was 40 feet from the "door" to the "windows wall" opposite the entry door.

Been done before. Engine Build lab was built in the early 1960s.

The lift could service any part of the room. The 4 "Build Tables" were 6 feet x 6 feet for
the work table surface of each build table. The trolley was moved about the room by
hidden pull cables and there was the basic lift that toad on the trolley beam.

Tom V.

Looks like the Research design is exactly what you need.

Yep ... that is exactly what I'm talking about.

For years I've watched a GIANT setup like that at work at my local steel supplier that has a huge indoor warehouse.

I'm talking a 40 x 60 shop ... so yep the Research setup is almost identical to what I need. Basically I don't want to be an old guy trying to shove big things around the shop, or lift things into other things in some sketchy way. Well I'm already an old guy, so we'll say an older guy.

(Single girder bridge crane) is the term you're searching for, I built a maintenance shop for amphibious vehicles that used these on a huge scale.

You can build one of these to fit your shop if you can do steel work, or if you know a steel worker in the area they could fabricate a system for you.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J04fxrkiLGE/maxresdefault.jpg



Frank

Nice Photo Frank.

Thanks for the visual so everyone knows what we are talking about.

Don't skimp on the work table construction.

Tom V.

I'd look for a scrap metal place and see what they have. We had a local factory shut down (20 years or so ago) and they auctioned off all the equipment. Most went to the local scrapyard, mainly because the cranes were 480 volt powered and not many people had that.

Also the scrapyard probably has the steel pieces you need possibly in 'used' condition for a better price. We've bought many steel items that way. (or even aluminum)

:)

Note that as indicated in the picture above, a bridge crane wide enough to span a 36' wide shop will have a pretty massive beam, just to support itself, and won't be cheap. A gantry crane on casters may be worth considering and will cost a lot less.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...3&d=1705760286

A third option is a jib crane, but they need a substantial footing that has to be designed into the floor.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...4&d=1705760403

Matt, the guy that makes videos for the You tube channel, "Diesel Creek" bought one at a Ritchie Brothers auction in Pittsburg complete, for under $5000. He just built a new shop within the last year, and is going to adapt it to his new building. I believe the one he bought is wider than his present building, so it will need to be narrowed on the bridge portion of the crane.

He used scissor trusses to maximize the area in the top of the building with the crane in mind.

He works an a lot of antiquated heavy construction equipment, so it will suit him well. Lots of this type of stuff comes up used when old factory buildings are torn down. You couldn't even buy a portion of the steel to build one for 5 grand, so he got an outstanding buy, IMO.

A quick search on Marketplace shows a few for sale currently, so used ones are out there. Not many people looking to buy them, so they tend to go for pennies on the dollar.

This my set up worked good every time I needed it. Draw back was the frt to rear movement but that was just a matter of pushing the car back and forth. Brother got my the trolley, bit of a overkill but was priced right!

When I built my garage 25 years ago I had a alu I beam run across the width of the garage.I have used the trolley to move engines across the garage.When taking a engine out I just back my truck in and load them.Used it also to pull and install engines in my 63 Tempests also.Smaller project from what your looking at.FWIW,Tom

Gantry crane
 

This is mine. I've since raised it up and plan on going higher. It rolls really easy even loaded with an engine hanging from it.

I've had maybe 6 of them built over my career. Generally 50ft x 100ft range. Here's a link if it works. Ours was not quite this heavy duty, but similar design.

https://youtu.be/Ca9xZmmjF0I?si=8POWYKyYVPm5peye

Thanks for all the input, very helpful.

I'm flexible, not married to any particular design.

If it was 20 years ago I'd definitely build my own. The last shop I built I just put in a single straight beam on posts with a trolley. If I have to I can live with a single beam spanning two work bays ... could be used for unloading a truck onto the shop floor, or loading from the shop floor to a truck.

Rolling gantry would also be a possibility. The more versatile the crane better, kind of why I liked the single girder bridge crane looks so attractive.

I'm a big fan of beams .... I built this truss beam with 20' span so I could remove a structural post in our kitchen. It supports another post upstairs that supports a ridge post and supports all the floor joists. Deflection when I loaded it was 1/16" in the middle. Zero bounce when jumping up and down on the floor upstairs. It's all square tube structural steel ... 12ga walls I think, all built up from 2 x 2" square.

PS. Thanks 4zpeed .... that terminology got me much better results in my search.

https://i.imgur.com/7cYBl2H.jpg

I only really need to cover the floor space from the far wall, to the two work bays, and left over to cover the front of the lift bay.

I'm trying to work up a decent plan for the new shop.

https://i.imgur.com/bjUVN2c.jpg

A bridge crane does look attractive, lift limits and span are the questions for columns and girder beam size, there's the money.

Setting steel and anchor bolts are a minimal cost, think oversize garage door opener or similar for girder movement system.



Frank

Deer skinning ceiling hoist can be affordable and sturdy. Our place had 1 because the barn ceiling joists are steel S- beams. Like a U-channel but 1-end is bent opposite the other end.

Anyway, you could a several up and not lose space or your wallet.

A second recommendation to search on line for auctions .
In addition to Richie Brother try Bid Equip, and Bidspotter.com
Lots of industrial companies folding or upgrading leads to some great deals

I've gotten just about all the tooling for my machine tools from auctions, typically the deals can't be beat. I'm guessing I could cut down most systems if necessary, shop height is only going to be 12'.