I need to rig up some kind of pulley system in my shop to help me lift large/heavy/awkward objects and tanks. Dont know the first damn thing about designing a system like this as im sure there are many things that will come into account.

Basically looking to make a rope system that can slowly raise lower large sheets or tanks up and down on tables probably up to 800 lbs. Steel I beams are about 40 feet up so it would have to be rigged into those, and theres a cheap tile ceiling at 15 feet that i dont care if it needs to be cut up.

Any physics gurus out there that want to come out to the shop and help me build it?

 

Another option to think about is an A-Frame gantry, most of them are wheeled and there are usually load capacities from about 500 lbs on up. They're nice because you can lift something and then roll it with the gantry over to where you need it, and if you don't get a tall one you won't have much tendency to swing around a lot.
If you're attaching to beams 40 feet overhead, that's a lot of length to swing around, and you're usually going to have a fixed point on the I-beam (unless you get a rolling winch or block & tackle)..

Here's a picture of a small one:

 

how much are you looking to spend? Like do you want electric or manual?

 

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...ex?sku=0504053
only 30' of lift, but you can suspend it.

How high are you trying to lift? you could use a single lift point and like a rolling table or cart to move the stuff around the shop. Would probably be the cheapest. I can get you a deal on the one i posted. pm me tomorrow if you want pricing.

 

A frame gantry sounds like it might be great for loading tanks into trucks.

I have 33" tall tables and theres alot of times where I have to lower a 4'x8' piece of acrylic onto a tank to be glued once ive applied the glue. The piece being lowered probably needs to be lifted up 6-7' in the air and lowered down to the tank. Depending on thickness sheets can weigh up to about 450 lbs each for me. I need to be able to lower it slowly and steadily. Manually is fine, dont want electric.

I can also deal with play in the piece, or swaying, whatever its called. Now instead of having people worry about lifting, holding, lining up and keeping it even; they can now just worry about keeping it lined up.

Ill have to look into A frames and see how big they come


Crxtasy, that may be what im looking for, just dont know yet