With time running out the gantry crane needs to be completed today if possible and that meant an early start. So before breakfast I hied me down to the workshop and spend the next 45 minutes cutting eight lengths of 10mm studding, deburring the ends with an external deburring tool and putting the retaining bolts into the crane legs.
The bolts were all cut the same length to save time and if the upper ones, which are longer than required, cause problems from being too long, then I shall cut them down at a more convenient time.
The task during my morning break was to make a drilling jig for the wheels.
This is comprised of a single sheet of plywood with four holes drilled in it. The width of the sheet is the same as the width of the underside of the feet.
And the four holes mark the position of the base of the wheels.
Easy to make and easy to use.
During my lunch break I started on the task of putting the wheels on to the legs. The jig was clamped to the underside of the foot with one end level with the end of the foot as show. Four small holes were drilled through the holes in the jig. The jig was removed and the 8mm drill used to widen the holes to the correct diameter.
The wheel is then bolted to the bottom of the foot.
Two complete legs had the wheels added during my lunch break. The brake on these wheels not only locks the spin of the wheel but also the rotation on the mount.
Back to work and …
Time for a cup of tea.
During my afternoon break I put the wheels on the other two legs.
A simple and easy job and quite quick as well.
After work I set to an put the cross beams in place. This took nearly three hours and I was completing the task in the dark, hence the flood lights. The reason it took so long was because all the things that had to be made, the bolts, braces and so on I made for both gantries. This means that the second one will take a lot less time.
Hopefully !
For now, I’m done for the day.
Time for a cup of tea.