[TarHeelTom]

Am building a rolling chain fall to move the RT, vises, etc from the mill table to a wall shelf.

Heaviest projected item is the RT, which currently weighs 150 lb, but will add the stepper motor in the future.

Chain fall, chain, pulleys, etc will be less than 10 lbs.

Using chain rated for 255 lb working strength, following a design I saw one a forum here once, but have never been able to find again.

The overhead beam to support the load will be 5.3 feet long.

Was planning on using 3/4" black iron pipe, as it's easy to come by locally. I know a small I beam would be better, but don't have an easy source.

Is the 3/4" black iron pipe strong enough?

Thanks

Tom

[js412000]

I would guess not strong enough.

Water pipe is pretty soft. If the load were to bounce it might just buckle and come crashing down.

Considering a five foot + span with the load in the center, I think two inch water pipe would be marginal, I would consider going bigger.

Lifting equipment needs to have a 5 or 10 x safety factor.

[packrat]

Easy enough to figure using the formulas from this site; http://www.engineersedge.com/beam_be...am_bending1.ht

[TarHeelTom]

Easy enough to figure using the formulas from this site; http://www.engineersedge.com/beam_be...m_bending1.htm

Slight typo on the url, but got it to work.

Unfortunately, the formula is way over my head. Went to Just Answer.com and paid the small fee to get a professional engineer to answer.

He first said that I need a 2" pipe, but changed that to a 1 1/4" pipe, or a 1" solid bar.

I'll go with the solid bar, as that's readily available at my local iron mongers supply.

Tom