Project Brief

Existing component of lifting system weighs 37 kg and must be installed manually; redesign to reduce weight while maintaining working load limit

Challenge

• Redesigned lifter component must weigh less than 20 kg but maintain existing working load limit
• Must be compatible with other components of lifter system

Solution

A concept was developed using pieces of formed plate to approximate the geometry of the existing lifter. Analysis was carried out via hand calculations as well as finite element analysis with Autodesk Inventor CAD software. Analysis results were used to develop and refine the design, resulting in a lifter that had the same working load limit as the existing one, but only weighed 18 kg.