Mobile Crane: Lattice Boom

[Pauger]

I'm one of those who have big visions for future projects, but never really has enough patience to finish them - and if I do, I'm not satisfied enough with it to bother presenting them. This time though, I think I'm on to something. I've always been fascinated by big mobile cranes, especially the ones with lattice booms suits LEGO building very good. There has been built some really nice replicas of such cranes, like Dennisbosman's, erikleppen's and M_longer's. I have chosen to build what I find to work best functionally and aesthetically, rather than replicating a real crane. So far, I've only done the chassis:

It has 12 wheel steering controlled by the HOG at the back. I have "cheated" slightly by making the two front axles steer with the same angle, this was necessary because I wanted to avoid any gear increase between the axles as it would be likely to jerk the steering. There is a dummy V8 engine connected to axles #5&6. The three levers in the front controls four motorized functions in the chassis:

1. Rotation of the invisible superstructure.

2, 3 and 4: Swivel, extract and deployment of the stabilizers.

Most difficult by far was the stabilizers. The goal was to make them fully functional and controlled from the chassis without using seperate motors in each stabilizers. The solution was to mount them on seperate turntables, and use the same technique as in 8043 and 8258. To make the deployment of the stabilizers possible after being extracted I've used the old gray 20 tooth double bevels sliding on a 12L axle as they stick very poorly.

More pics can be seen at Brickshelf as soon as it's approved. A proper presentation and videos will probably come when I finish it.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Pauger

[BobBongo1895]

Wow, this looks huge.

How big is the radius if you are driving a circle?

Great work!

[Alasdair Ryan]

Looks great i was tempted to make a SSl mobile crane which would of had 16 pf functions.

Your progress looks great so far.

[jorgeopesi]

Awesome, we want a video of this project.

[Pauger]

How big is the radius if you are driving a circle?

I haven't measured, but I would guess it's around 50 cm. It's not very agile with its 85 cm long chassis.

Edited January 11, 2012 by Pauger

[olaf9198]

amazing can you make instuctions for the stabilizers thay are amazing

Edited January 11, 2012 by olaf9198

[BobBongo1895]

I haven't measured, but I would guess it's around 50 cm. It's not very agile with its 85 cm long chassis.

Hmm, I thought the radius would be bigger. In my opinion its a good relation to the length of the truck.

[KRI76]

This is a fantastic project! Can't wait to see more!

[timslegos]

amazing can you make instuctions for the stabilizers thay are amazing

Agreed, they look so simple yet effective! I cant wait to see more.

tim

[dhc6twinotter]

Oh wow....this is looking really good! Nice job on those outriggers.

[phool]

Droooool. This is looking like one tasty MOC. Can't wait to see the finished result :) Good luck with the rest of your build.

[Smrgol]

Damn that looks nice, so big too

[Erik Leppen]

Now THIS looks interesting!

And it looks very functional, which is a good thing. Nice how you got the outriggers to move sideways, then extend and deploy. That's an impressive feat. On the other hand, I can't help but think, this chassis must be flexible as hell, because studless usually is very bendable and this doesn't look strengthened enough to combat that. But oh well, you're clearly focusing on functionality, which is great!

[Pauger]

Thanks for nice feedback

amazing can you make instuctions for the stabilizers thay are amazing

I'll see what I can do. I'm very impatient when building digitally

Now THIS looks interesting!

And it looks very functional, which is a good thing. Nice how you got the outriggers to move sideways, then extend and deploy. That's an impressive feat. On the other hand, I can't help but think, this chassis must be flexible as hell, because studless usually is very bendable and this doesn't look strengthened enough to combat that. But oh well, you're clearly focusing on functionality, which is great!

I don't really recognize the problem. There is almost no space between the axles, so the chassis doesn't really get the chance to bend as long as it's on the ground. And when lifting the chassis there isn't any visible bending at least. There is basicly three horizontal beams going through the entire chassis, which gives decent strength to the chassis. I recon it will be a bigger problem when building the superstructure though, as it will be terrible unbalanced when the boom isn't mounted.

[Burf2000]

Thats a monster well done mate! Looks good

[Zerobricks]

This si really great! The size and the functions, all looks awesome!

[Sugarfree]

Awesome, i want build something like this, but smallest like Demag ac 250. And i want too video of this project! :)

[Pauger]

The outriggers has been tweaked a bit, and photo instructions has been made. They should be public any minute now.

Edited April 22, 2012 by Pauger

[Swe_Mckvack]

Wow, this is one impressive piece of machinery, can´t wait to see how this develops

[olaf9198]

thanks for making instructions . do you have made the upper body already

[Pauger]

I can give you a little tease.

Not entirely satisfied with the superstructure yet, the slewing is too laggy and unreliable. I guess I have to rebuild the turntable.

Edit: speaking of which, Olaf

Edited April 25, 2012 by Pauger

[olaf9198]

2 things it is realy nice

but i think you have too made it higher like Liebherr's LG 1750 (It is a idea)

Edited April 25, 2012 by olaf9198

[Pauger]

2 things it is realy nice

but i think you have too made it higher like Liebherr's LG 1750 (It is a idea)

Nah.. the superstructure on the lg1750 is dismounted when the crane is moved, mine is going to be permanent like in the lg1550. Therefore I want it as low as possible, which is also what it is.

[olaf9198]

Oke, now i see it looks realy nice looks very simular also with it's rotating cab ( any plans for boom sections or transport vehicles( i have 1 truck & flatbed))

Edited April 25, 2012 by olaf9198

[Alasdair Ryan]

Great crane,i like the progress your making.