Large Lift

As detailed below I was involved with the build, install, and operation of a large lift

SKILLS USED: Metal work (cutting, grinding, MIG welding), hydraulics basics, control system basics, steel wire rope rigging

During the prep phase I created a jig to evenly space the cross braces of the lift truss and tacked them together. I also welded together the large sheaves used to run the cables over the reds. 

On the stage I was a part of the build team that fabricated the lift, erected the guide rails, fixed the sheaves to the reds, ran the cables between the lift and counter balance, and installed the hydraulic power set up. On each corner of the lift was a pick point for the cable as well as a spring loaded wheel assembly to run along the guide track. Special care had to be taken with the individual track and wheel setups as well as the collective system to ensure the lift would not wedge or bind. 

The cables from the lift went up over the reds and back down to the counterweight. The counterweight consisted of a suspended platform with IBCs filled with water to help offset the lift weight. When the lift was on the ground the counterweight was in the air, to raise the lift a hydraulic ram pulled the counterweight down. 

The hydraulic cylinder was attached to a 4:1 compound pulley to increase the travel of the lift compared to the stroke of the ram. There was an encoder on the ram to measure and provide ram position to the control system. When commissioning the system we set start/end positions and acceleration/deceleration values. We also set out a safe working procedure for the shoot. 

On the day I was a spotter, watching both the lift and its occupants for any safety issues or abnormal behavior. My position was on the far side of the lift. I was in direct communication with the control team with a hard wired headset and E-Stop.