This week one video from a Tower Crane with Luffing Boom, by Mike Hatton (Parax).
This is a crane with very generous dimensions and noticeable structure rigidity (see how easily, it lifts an '8294, Excavator').
Loosly Based on Terex CTL 340-24-HD23
Power functions controls:
Rotation
Boom Luffing
Hook Hoist
Counter-balance Extension
Dimensions:
Tower Cross Section Square: 10.5cm
Base Cross Footprint: 31cm
Centre to Boom Tip: 92cm
Centre to Rear Max: 38cm
Height To slew ring: 98cm
Height To superstructure: 142cm
Height Maximum Boom @ 14cm radius: 203cm
Max Lift Height @ 90cm Radius: 110cm
Max Lift Height @ 14cm Radius: 195cm
Lift Capabilities:
Radius: Normal Lift: MAXIMUM Lift:
30cm 750g (1.7lbs) 850g (2.0lbs)
60cm 450g (1.0lbs) 500g (1.2lbs)
90cm 300g (.67lbs) 340g (.75lbs)
Component Weights:
Tower 1472g
SuperStructure 865g
Boom 325g
Counter Balance weight 748g
Total Weight: 3410g
It is always good to have a face to put on a name, Mike.

You can find more images from this crane, at Mike's BS folder.
Edit:
For a detailed description about the design process and how the required stiffness ws accomplished for the studless lattice, read Mike's Tower Crane presentation at LUGNET.
Last Update: 2008.Nov.13 18:29 GMT
6 comments:
How many pieces?
That's a great (and big) creation! I just expected it changed the distance from the load to the tower by way of a sliding "cart", like the 7905 Building Crane, but this method is nice too.
I'm also amazed at its strength for the size; kudos for that, Parax!
@ Anonymous: In my opinion, counting the sheer number of parts in a model is a very wrong way of judging it: a model with 100 pins or another with 100 bricks 1x16 don't have the same size, weight, complexity, cost or value!
Why do you assume I am judging it? The description states a number of dimensions for it, including lifting weight, etc. I am simpl7y curious about the number of pieces, as I am sure others are as well.
I also use to be curious about partcount. Just curious.
No worries about that. ;)
Sorry for the delay.. Part count isn't an easy answer, as this was built by trial and error not by design. I would estimate 2000-2500. (mostly pins!)
I'll upload some LDD files here if you wan't to know more..
@Alexandre This is a Luffing Tower Crane, not a flat-top, both have advantages and disadvantages, the Luffing type are becoming more popular for built up areas. Actually When I started building this crane I was thinking of making a flat-top, and the boom will work for either! see the linked lugnet post. But to my knowledge there are no moving counterweight flat-tops, and when I found this design with the swing-arm counterweight I knew that was what I had to build!
"When I first saw this crane in the LUGnet news I, of course, immediately thought “what’s Meccano doing on a Lego site?”"
Wasn't able to stop laughing, when red Daniel Rutter comment on "How To Stop A Psycopath" blog, about Mike's crane. ;)
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