Originally Posted by lurch Is the 200lbs. from the sheet stock or the table/rack that holds them? I'm a packaging engineer, so problems like this fascinate me.... |
The sheet stock. I have been looking at scissor jacks that have a hydraulic jack handle. Found one for $495.00 Firestone makes pneumatic actuators that could be used to move the handle under program control. Then using another very small actuator to turn the release knob to lower the table would do the trick.
The battery operated lift jacks I have looked at all run over 2 grand. I need to make about 8 of these so that's why I am trying to figure out a cheap way of making them.
If I had a better math background/Physics I would be able to calculate the pullys needed to do the job with a stepper motor using a basic stamp PLC to monitor the height of the sheets stacking on the table to lower it using the release valve. When the operator rolls that table full of sheets back to the perss he would flip a switch and the table would maintain the height of the stack at the same level. Using air the table would have to be "plugged in" each time it was moved. I was thinking if I could do it with a stepper or servo system I could have onboard batteries but they would have to get plugged in overnight. Cords and electric are more dangerious than pluggiing in air so that's why i am thinking the air route for this project.
Ref:
http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/Industrial/index.htm