[hoss2006]

Does anyone else remember seeing the thread where the guy built a light duty overhead crane in his small workshop?
I'd like to do the same with a powered winch from harbor freight.
I think the 12 foot span would be a little too much for me to accomplish though.
I won't have the room for the conventional movable gantry or engine hoist but a rail on either side of the shop walls up high with a gantry sliding between them will be cool.
Guess I could build it the conventional way with I-beams and rollers but I remember he used something lighter and cheaper for the tracks.
Hoss

[LacL]

Sorry don't have a link for you but how about using garage door tracks?

I'm currently planning to implement your y-axis travel mod and was wondering what material you used for the head and base extensions?

[Connor]

I used unistrut for a small light duty overhead track. I used a flat hook from a 2" tiedown strap, sandwiched between 2 sets of sliding glass door metal wheel INSIDE the unistrut for the carriage. My Span was around 6'. You probably could do 12 foot span if you support it in the middle. You'll need weld something to the middle to bolt too as you can't use anything through the unitstrut or it'll impede the carriage. It was strong enough to lift my G0704 without issues. If I where to do it again, I would make 2 tracks with a 3rd cross track and have a X/Y setup so I could move heavy stuff anywhere in my little 7'x11' shop.

Thanks, COnnor

[hoss2006]

Sorry don't have a link for you but how about using garage door tracks?

I'm currently planning to implement your y-axis travel mod and was wondering what material you used for the head and base extensions?

Thanks for the idea!
I used aluminum, If you can get ahold of cast iron instead, all the better.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

I used unistrut for a small light duty overhead track. I used a flat hook from a 2" tiedown strap, sandwiched between 2 sets of sliding glass door metal wheel INSIDE the unistrut for the carriage. My Span was around 6'. You probably could do 12 foot span if you support it in the middle. You'll need weld something to the middle to bolt too as you can't use anything through the unitstrut or it'll impede the carriage. It was strong enough to lift my G0704 without issues. If I where to do it again, I would make 2 tracks with a 3rd cross track and have a X/Y setup so I could move heavy stuff anywhere in my little 7'x11' shop.

Thanks, COnnor

I think that was it!
I'll have to look into it , x and y is what I want just like the big overhead cranes at work only wee.
Yeah, lifting the full mill on and off the stand is the most I'd be looking at so 300+ lbs.
I could probably get away with 8x12 for just the side of the room where the mill, lathe and saw will be.
Thanks for the reminder.
Hoss

[jalessi]

Hoss,

The trolley assemblies start on page 122 of the pdf.

http://www.unistrut.us/DB/PDF_Archive/No_12.pdf

Jeff...

[Connor]

That's pretty cool.. I didn't even know they made that..

On the next page is Channel Trolley Support, P1834 and P1834 A Allows you to suspend the channel without using the through hole bolt holes or welding to the unistrut and causing issues with the trolley.

[hoss2006]

Thanks for the info guys!
Hoss

[Dr.Fiero]

I'd like to do the same with a powered winch from harbor freight.

Please be careful!
A "winch" is not the same as a hoist. Hoists have brakes in them, where a winch will free wheel usually when the power is removed.

I worked for a material handling company for a decade and had to tell people this on a daily basis.
Also had to deal with hearing about several people who died over the years from using the wrong device for the job. Our devices.

[wizard]

These guys probably sell more than you are looking for: https://www.gorbel.com/Products/work...dge-crane.aspx. However we have more than a few at work, even if they are to expensive you might get some inspiration.

Does anyone else remember seeing the thread where the guy built a light duty overhead crane in his small workshop?

I see Unistrut is what you are thinking about. Honestly I'd be concerned about capacity, Flex Strut, Metal Strut Channel Framing Systems [Flex-Strut], rates their trolleys for 600 pounds. That isn't a lot.

I'd like to do the same with a powered winch from harbor freight.
I think the 12 foot span would be a little too much for me to accomplish though.
I won't have the room for the conventional movable gantry or engine hoist but a rail on either side of the shop walls up high with a gantry sliding between them will be cool.

Yes it would be cool. I'm thinking to get that you will need something more substantial than Unistrut. It may be easier to buy an iBeam.

Guess I could build it the conventional way with I-beams and rollers but I remember he used something lighter and cheaper for the tracks.
Hoss

There are companies out there selling aluminum extrusions for this purpose. EMH comes to mind. The problem you often run into is that they want to sell you an engineered solution. That likely due to liability issues.

[hoss2006]

Please be careful!
A "winch" is not the same as a hoist. Hoists have brakes in them, where a winch will free wheel usually when the power is removed.

I worked for a material handling company for a decade and had to tell people this on a daily basis.
Also had to deal with hearing about several people who died over the years from using the wrong device for the job. Our devices.

Thanks for the heads up, didn't think about that.
Should have posted a link to what I was looking at, it does say hoist not winch.
880 Lb. Electric Hoist with Remote Control
Hoss

[rkbuild]

Hoss;

What CAM and CAD programs do you use for your mill? I am currently using TurboCad, but have not picked a CAM program yet. I have my X2 mill fully converted to CNC now (mucho thanks to all your website information BTW) and have been doing manual machining and am now ready to make the full plunge into CAM.

Thanks again for all the great info you post up.

Regards;

[hoss2006]

For CAD I use Autocad but lately I just draw the part in Alibre to make a 3D model.
For CAM I use V-carve pro mostly, sometimes Meshcam.
There are lots of others to choose from, I recommend downloading the trials and see what works for you.
http://www.g0704.com/Links.html
You'll get a myriad of suggestions when this topic is brought up, everyone thinking there's is best but it's very subjective.
I tried LOTS of them and found ones I'm comfortable with and with my wallet.
Hoss

[FannBlade]

For CAM I use V-carve pro mostly,

That's good to hear,I recently bought Cut2D and really like it and was thinking about upgrading (hard to get my head around the "carve" in the title). Does Pro offer more CAD system bells and whistles?

CAD and CAM can be a touchy subject around here, lot of people really love CamBam but I just can't get my head around it.

[hoss2006]

Yeah there's much more in pro, they compare them here.
Products - Software Comparison
There are more options in the 2d toolpath creation than cut2d has too like allowance offset.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

Barn door sliders. Cheap and carry a ton of weight.

Does anyone else remember seeing the thread where the guy built a light duty overhead crane in his small workshop?
I'd like to do the same with a powered winch from harbor freight.
I think the 12 foot span would be a little too much for me to accomplish though.
I won't have the room for the conventional movable gantry or engine hoist but a rail on either side of the shop walls up high with a gantry sliding between them will be cool.
Guess I could build it the conventional way with I-beams and rollers but I remember he used something lighter and cheaper for the tracks.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

Thanks for the heads up, didn't think about that.
Should have posted a link to what I was looking at, it does say hoist not winch.
880 Lb. Electric Hoist with Remote Control
Hoss

I have this one. Works well. Make sure to get an array of different slings also. different lengths and sizes always come in handy.

[hoss2006]

Barn door sliders. Cheap and carry a ton of weight.

Thanks, those look good but I changed my mind when it dawned on me that I have a big ceiling fan in there I can't take down, DOH.
I'll get by with the lift table that just showed up, I'm modding the foot jack to be used by hand instead.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Got my Harbor Freight Lift table and modded it to suit me.
Hydraulic Lift Table - 500 Lb. Capacity
Don't forget to check here for online and store coupons, I saved $40.
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/harborfreight.com
Used it to move some stuff around and rolled in the first two pieces into the new shop.
Love the amount of light I get in there especially on a sunny day.
I'll actually have room to use my sand blaster and bandsaw in there.
Hoss

[Fastest1]

We are in for a treat now that you will be able to get something done! All that ability to move around and see well. It was amazing what we got to see when you just went into a dimly lit cave, ;-)