Ceiling Beam Size (how to quote a crane system)

If the customer requires a ceiling hung system then the ceiling beam size is important because it tells the manufacturer what size beam hangers are required to hold up the runways.

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Ceiling height or max height (how to quote a crane system)

The ceiling height or max height isn't really that important. All it pretty much tells the manufacture is: how much height there is to work with. This is only important when the customer doesn't know the height they need to lift/move a specific product.

Doesn't get any easier.

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Ceiling or Floor (how to quote a crane system)

Ceiling or floor refers to how the customer wishes to support their crane system. In the most basic sense, there are two types of supports - ceiling or floor (advanced applications might require a hybrid of both, but we'll get to that).

There are major differences between a ceiling mounted system and a floor mounted system (free-standing we call it). For one, a ceiling mounted system does not require posts. This means the manufacture doesn't need to make posts if the quote becomes a sale... i.e. saves the customer lots of $$. A free-standing system requires posts and I would estimate 80% of all systems we sell are free standing.

Trolley eye height is also another factor when it comes to a ceiling or free standing system. With a ceiling hung system, the trolley eye height is achieved by coming down from the ceiling (this is pretty easy and there is a lot of room for adjustment [assuming there is a high ceiling] - which can be done by the customer).

On the other hand, a free standing system trolley eye height is achieved by coming up from the ground. Not a lot of room for adjustment so make sure you get a pretty accurate trolley eye height.

Let me know if this was helpful - kind of confusing, but that's probably thanks to my writing style.

Read more @ http://kundelcranes.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/ceiling-or-flo…a-crane-system/

Capacity (how to quote a crane system)

The capacity requirements needed for the crane system your quoting (assuming your quoting one) is, by far, the most important item. Capacity helps a crane manufacturer determine:
-the type of system
-what size runways/bridges need to be used
-the maximum distance between two support locations
-the maximum cantilever that can be achieved
-the overall bridge rating requirements
-the number of supports needed
-what bridge spans can be achieved with that capacity
-floor rating requirements (free-standing)
-ceiling rating requirements (ceiling hung)
-trolley/endtruck requirements

see more at http://ping.fm/v5cF9…a-crane-system/

Crane Terminology

Overhead Workstation Crane Terminology

Runway - The crane runway (in a way) is like talking about the length of a system. If someone asks "What size runway?" they are asking "What is the overall length of your system?" The crane runway provides a runway for the wheels on the bridge... but we'll get to that.

Bridge - The bridge is like the width of a system. When someone asks for a bridge length, they are asking "What is the width of your system?" Attached to the top bridge are wheels that run inside the runway sections.

Hoist - The hoist (has wheels) runs inside the bridge. In the most simplest terms, the hoist acts as your "picker uper" and picks things up (or hoists things up).

[Quick recap, the hoist runs inside the bridge and travels the width of the system, the bridge is attached to the runway and travels the lenght of the system]

Trolley/Endtrucks - The top of a trolley includes wheels that ride inside a bridge section. The bottom of a trolley hooks to the hoist. The top of an entruck includes wheels that ride inside a runway section. The bottom of an endtruck attaches the the bridge. Just remember: runways are to endtrucks as bridges are to trolleys.

P.S. Thought that it would be essential that we first establish some crane terminology - Geeze! It wasn't like there was a bibles length worth of terms.

The Importance of Capacity

Our next few posts will revolve around quoting a Kundel Crane. We will start the series with the importance of knowing what is being lifted, the Capacity.

The first, and foremost important thing to understand before quoting a Kundel crane system is what is being lifted (The size and weight of the object). Knowing this piece of information tells us a lot.

Kundel has three different crane series, The SnapTrac, K-Trac, and T-Trac. Each of these series is rated for different capacities. SnapTrac is rated for anything less than 1/2ton. K-Trac is rated for anything less than 3ton. T-Trac is rated for anything less than 10ton. Knowing the capacity allows us to pinpoint which series we need to focus on. Let us say for instance, we get a customer that needs a crane rated for 2ton. Knowing the 2ton capacity tells us that this eliminates the possibility of using the SnapTrac(1/2ton) for the application.

The capacity also helps us design the layout of the crane system. Knowing the capacity also tells us how far we can span with our runways and bridge. In other words it tells us how many posts will be needed, and how far apart they need to be. The further the span the less posts needed. Less posts not only means less expensive, it means more room to work. More room means you can now install that much needed CNC machine or pull in one more car into your garage... the list goes on.

These are just two small examples of the "behind the scenes" information we get from knowing the capacity. We will touch more on capacity later as we go through the various topics. Thanks for reading, and remember… Always ask yourself “What is being lifted?”