building a gantry

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Anybody on here build a gantry? I am looking to build one that is 10 feet wide and about 30 feet in length. I want it to slide down the x and y axis.
Reply:Hi Pyro Jim Colt of Hypertherm advertised one for sale at http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=39490 & http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38675 its a gorbel gantry. He even has the link to gorbel on their last link I referenced. They are VERY good and expensive Gantry's. I think they wanted $6,500 or BEST OFFER.  It located in NH. Not sure where you at at.If you want to post your location, show your personal avatar, or have a signature on each post telling fellow members where you are located; an avatar of you or your shop, and a signature telling fellow members what types of equipment you have, you can do it all by following these steps:1. Locate and click on USER CP2. Under YOUR CONTROL PANEL, YOUR PROFILE, click on EDIT YOUR DETAILS3. In the EDIT YOUR DETAILS, you can enter Optional Information and Additional Information such as your Location (an other info)4. While in USER CP you can explore some of the other functions - Avatar: you can have picture of you, your shop, your wife, children, dog, etc (keep it clean- no nudes)- Signature: you can list all your equipment, a link to your shop, or maybe some witty sayingCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterHi Pyro Jim Colt of Hypertherm advertised one for sale at http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=39490 & http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38675 its a gorbel gantry. He even has the link to gorbel on their last link I referenced. They are VERY good and expensive Gantry's. I think they wanted $6,500 or BEST OFFER.  It located in NH. Not sure where you at at.If you want to post your location, show your personal avatar, or have a signature on each post telling fellow members where you are located; an avatar of you or your shop, and a signature telling fellow members what types of equipment you have, you can do it all by following these steps:1. Locate and click on USER CP2. Under YOUR CONTROL PANEL, YOUR PROFILE, click on EDIT YOUR DETAILS3. In the EDIT YOUR DETAILS, you can enter Optional Information and Additional Information such as your Location (an other info)4. While in USER CP you can explore some of the other functions - Avatar: you can have picture of you, your shop, your wife, children, dog, etc (keep it clean- no nudes)- Signature: you can list all your equipment, a link to your shop, or maybe some witty saying
Reply:We have a Gorbel gantry over our Torchmate X 10'x 40" Table and yes it expensive.  They are not all that complex but I would imagine they would be expensive to try to duplicate. Maybe if you go to the  Gorbel site you can get some ideas for building one https://www.gorbel.com/ProductsCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterWe have a Gorbel gantry over our Torchmate X 10'x 40" Table and yes it expensive.  They are not all that complex but I would imagine they would be expensive to try to duplicate. Maybe if you go to the  Gorbel site you can get some ideas for building one https://www.gorbel.com/Products
Reply:Perhaps if we post a picture of it someone might know where there is one for sale. Or maybe someone will have built something similiar. Attached ImagesCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterPerhaps if we post a picture of it someone might know where there is one for sale. Or maybe someone will have built something similiar.
Reply:If you could get the construction I beams you could make most of it easily. The framework for the one in our cnc shop we made using a hydra post hole digger on the back of my tractor. Then sunk the I beam posts.Last edited by specter; 03-21-2010 at 12:59 PM.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Whilst typing you two went from basic Gantry to Overhead Fixed Track system. Never stated the lift requirements, anyway I'll post the bottom end info. If you go for much more than a 4 Ton unit get engineered designs or buy a properly rated unit.Try here Northern Tool + Equipment / Gantry Cranes for ideas and there is large selection. My preference is a track system, not the swivel casters they display (wanders to much whilst moving). These are very basic with manual movement and lift capacities are minimal but varied. They also have Air, Electric and Chain Hoists to compare. Do not forget the trolley.
Reply:i know the Mc Master carr  catalog used to have one for salehttp://www.mcmaster.com/#bridge-cranes/=6bl1qe not cheep but at my old shop we got one from them and it did a good jobAfter the arc has died the weld remains
Reply:just as a note, I had to shut down a workplace that had "homemade" gantry cranes.  what passes in a backyard doesn't fly in a workzone.  Building lifting devices especially with high ratings is asking for trouble.Just as a word of warning. I would look for something with engineering approval like a prefab or pre bought unit. mcMaster sells the rolling gantry style cranes. you can build a track for one of those to have x/y.  a lot goes into designing a proper crane if you have long running lengths.
Reply:When we put in the gantry for our shop we got lucky Foster Wheeler was downsizing and closing some of it plants. We got an relatively new overhead gantry for next to nothing. It was a ceiling mounted gantry but the Foster Wheeler tech showed us how to convert it to a post mounted system using I beams that they also gave us.The Northern-Tool gantry's do not look bad for the money.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:You're a 'shop', as in a business?As said, you'll pretty much have to buy a RATED device.  Or have your design analyzed and certified and signed-off and stamped by an engineer (yes, the engineer will have an actual embossing stamp to stamp the prints with).  No homemade stuff for use in a business.  Liability-wise, you need to buy and use a 'rated' device.  Regulation-wise (as in OSHA), you need to buy and use a 'rated' device.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:The Foster Wheeler supplied Gorbel gantry was fully certified. For our conversion certification the Foster Wheeler tech helped us out by contacting NYS Dept of Labor/OSHA  Buffalo to  consult on the blueprints/drawings,building permit and  inspect the conversion from ceiling mount to post mount. The OSHA sign off the plans, and twice during construction, and final inspection/certification. In addition in the state of NY there is yearly maintenance and inspection. Plus we also have insurance inspections.I really do not know if anyone buying/using the Northern Tool gantry's has to go thru all thos permits, inspections, and certifications. Bit if you have a business license and over 5 employeees I would bet you have to go thru all the permits, inspections and certifications.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:and then the slings and chains used for lifting have to be rated.
Reply:I have quite a few sections of the Gorbel gantry cranes, just like the one in Spectors picture in his earlier post. I have the cross gantry, about 80' of rail, I have the joiners for the rail sections. I have some parts from 1 ton rated units and also some lighter 1/2 ton rated units. I do not have the uprights for support or the trolleys.....they could be fabricated or purchased from Gorbel. If anyone is interested PM me. These were all purchased a few years ago at an auction as a lot, I used what I wanted, and stacked and stored the rest! My wife accuses me of being a packrat.Jim Colt
Reply:I stumbled across this page tonight:http://www.submarineboat.com/gantry.htmHe built a big gantry and has some links to the calculators he used. Well worth the read.
Reply:If anyone living near New Hampshire is looking for a excellent gantry they should inquire with Jim Colt.Gorbel is of of the finest manufacturer's of quality Gantry's. If your running a business you'll have some code requirements to meet. Gorbel easily meets all codes. Attached ImagesCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Harbor Freight has a gantry crane with swivel casters, around $600.  2000 pound capacity, but only 94" clear between posts.  If you replace the swivel casters with non-swivel you should be good.   With the right wheels, you could use a track on each side to keep it aligned.  Maybe use wheels with a V-groove and an angle iron bolted to the floor (V pointed up on angle).   That could be a low-buck solution.  Might or might not meet OSHA requirements, but maybe that does not matter.   You could argue that just replacing the wheels does not require engineering sign off, as long as the wheels had more than adequate capacity.http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-t...ane-41188.htmlhttp://www.castercity.com/vgroovew.htmThen you have the question about whether Harbor Freight is good enough for safety critical items.  I for one would be nervous about using it at the full 2000 pound rating, and stay well clear of suspended loads.  But if I figured my heaviest load as 1000 pounds, or that 2000 pound loads were rare, I might go for it.  Using it to lift 2000 pounds every day is probably asking for trouble.   I have seen the gantry in their store, looked OK, but I did not attempt to calculate the safety margin in the design.  ;-)My two cents.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge