how to handle 1700 lbs ? 2

[stel8]

I am designing an assembly line for heavy containers with a lot of components attached inside and outside. Total weight is about 1700 lbs and the footprint is square 45 inch.
The assembly should be moved between 4 assembly stations at about every 3-4 hrs. What would be the cheaper way to do it? I am thinking of pneumatic platforms or platforms on balls and floor covered by steel sheet, etc.

 

[GregLocock]

Wheels?

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[MadMango]

I'd use V-track and grooved rollers, since it's all self-cleaning to a degree. You could even power the whole thing with a chain drive, but 1700lbs isn't that much of a load over a 45x45 area.

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[prex]

The best choice depends on many parameters:
- quality of floor you would like to have and to maintain in time
- can you accept rails to be present, and should they be flush with floor level?
- effort you require to have the load displaced: mechanical or hand driven?
- if it is mechanical, can you accept chains or cables to be over the floor or would you require them to be below the floor level?
- how is the load transported to its first location and how is it evacuated from the last one?
The cheapest way is undoubtedly elastomeric or pneumatic wheels on flat floor, the limit of this method is that the displacement by hand of that load will require some effort. Air pads are more costly, require an air supply, but can be very easily moved by hand (see

http://www.levitans.com

). Can't personally see the advantages of ball rollers, as a much stiffer and perfectly flat soil would be required for them to behave correctly.

prex

http://www.xcalcs.com

Online tools for structural design

 

[griffengm]

A couple more parameters to consider:
Working height for assemblers;
Final packing/packaging requirements.

I've been through this twice, once for appliances and once on semi trailer bodies.
If you use a dolly of some sort, wheels or air pads, somehow they must be returned to the front of the line and often stored. Roller track or overhead lifts avoid this.
The working height for assemblers may be somewhat higher than available with air pads. Dollies at the correct height will take up more space and be heavier.
Do these units get shipped on pallets? Are they boxed, stretch wrapped, or enclosed? Can they move down the line on the final shipping base? Do the assemblers need access to all sides or can they work from one side or the other? What kind and amount of feeder lines are needed/used?
Could you use sections of powered roller track?
These are just a few of the issues we encountered in addition to those posted by others here.
Good luck.

Griffy

 

[jclough]

Sounds like a good job for one of those electric pallet jacks.