FILENAMES: Gantry_Crane_1.jpg Gantry_Crane_2.jpg Gantry_Crane_3.jpg Gantry_Crane_4.jpg Gantry_Crane_5.jpg Gantry_Crane_6.jpg Gantry_Crane_7.jpg Gantry_Crane_8.jpg Gantry_Crane_9.jpg Gantry_Crane_10.dxf Gantry_Crane_11.dxf Gantry_Crane_12.dxf DESCRIPTION: These are pictures and diagrams of a shop built gantry crane. Posted by Rob gradstdnt . The following description was provided: ================================================================= Here is data that outlines my gantry crane project for all those that requested this information. I designed it to safely lift and manuever 1 ton. I have used it to lift and move a 13" Clausing Colchester lathe just shy of 1 ton according to Clausing. The structure showed no signs of excessive strain. Everything stayed stiff, sturdy, and rolled by just me under load. The main beam is a overkill at 4"x8" and weighs 13 lbs/foot. It's heavier than needed but the price was right, thus it got used. commercially available cranes of this size and capacity do get by with smaller beams. The ends are designed to swivel to allow the unloaded craned to manuever into tight places. Warning, don't swivel both ends at the same time or it can/will fall over. Caution, when swiveling the feet of one end parallel to the main beam, lateral support is lost so the swiveled end relies on the torsional stiffness of the beam to stay up. Thre is some loss of stability so care must be taken when the feet are rotated at this extreme. Finally the disclaimer. I can't guarantee the accuracy or validity of any information supplied. I certainly can't guarantee your fabrication skills. Build and use at your own risk. Here is a list of the pictures. The DXF files are accurate of what I have built but not exact. The small items I tweaked along the way didn't find it's way back into the CAD file. As you can imagine I have more work to do now that I have the crane to work with. Gantry Crane 1....Final iteration of CAD model. This is pretty much what I built. Gantry Crane 2....FEA work simulating 1 ton load at one end of the gantry. Deflections are magnified. Gantry Crane 3 ...55 degree cut on bandsaw with max 45 degree vice. Note milling table clamp. Gantry Crane 4....Makeshift weld table with assy all ready to be tacked. Gantry Crane 5....Closeup of weld for plate caster fasten to. Gantry Crane 6....Weld details at base of center tube. Gantry Crane 7....Height locking ring. The lower pin locks rotation. Care had to be taken to ensure all three peices align at multiple heights, rotations. Gantry Crane 8....Displays range of height capacity. Lowest to highest is 18" difference. Gantry Crane 9....Finished product minus paint on the main beam to match. Gantry Crane 10.dxf.....CAD data of locking ring Gantry Crane 11.dxf.....Upper support that the main beam rests on. Gantry Crane 12.dxf.....lower A-frame foot structure.