Pallet Racking and Workbench Design

[ValveEngineer123]

I am a mechanical engineer (thermo/fluids, process system, component design) that has been assigned some additional duties. I was wondering if any structural or industrial engineers could point me towards some good resources regarding the following topics:

1) Pallet Rack Design: Specifically interested in how to calculate maximum permissible loads per level/per bay for given beam heights/configurations. I already have a copy of the RMI spec, however it appears I am missing some basic information regarding how to calculate forces/moments in the frame supports/uprights/bracing.

2) Workbench Design: I need to design a workbench that has a required capacity of ~10,000 to 20,000 lbs. Typically I would assume that this type of thing would just be 'overdesigned', however since I have little experience in this respect, I'm unsure how to assess whether or not the bench has been adequately overdesigned. Can anyone direct me to resources where I could find the types of evaluations a structure like this would require?

Or perhaps someone could direct me to a forum where this post might be more appropriate?

 

[tygerdawg]

Pallet Rack Design: this can be as simple as looking at the spec sheets / catalogs of pallet rack vendors since they all have load ratings (weight / square foot or equivalent). Purchase the rack components that you need to meet your loading requirements.

Bench design: this can be simple mechanical design, too, as long as you verify your numbers are correct. Pull out your old design texts or use a Machinery's Handbook for the formulas. Sketch out a welded fabrication design using standard structural steel shapes. You'll have to analyze the column loading and beam bending loads. Then add a hefty factor of safety. For a full design, you must spec the welds, also. A good fab shop can throw it together, paint it, and deliver it. Like some crusty old guy told me years ago: "Steel is cheap, use plenty of it."

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[warehousedegn]

Hope this link will help:

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~fanous/ce332/force/cdframepp.html

WarehouseRat
Material handling engr

http://www.rossclark.com/

 

[ValveEngineer123]

Thanks warehousedegn, a very useful link; Also found good information on your company website!

 

[Hevs]

You can contact our sales department on

http://www.conveyor-manufacturers.co.uk

They will give you free advice and offer as much help as possible

Hevs
Conveyor Manufacturers

http://www.conveyor-manufacturers.co.uk