How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
The scissor jack lift's length is proportional to the support weight of the scissors and the integrity of the steel cross sections over the length. The scissor structures weight and length are corollaries, meaning that the former determines the latter for a stable scissor jack. An extreme example of this to illustrate the point would be a 20-foot lift length that is featherweight made from Styrofoam which is practically weightless. It definitely will not be able to support at much of a height and can not support much at all.
To be able to calculate the length of a scissor lift, determine how high in the air you require to support a platform that would support of the weight of the occupants and objects on the platform along with the platform's weight.
In order to reach the required height within the weight support parameters, the number of cross sections of scissor folding supports sections that will be necessary to be extended at their full extension. Lastly, you will never want to ascend some employees up on a platform along with their supplies that is on a platform supported by any type of structure that is not stable since obviously any machinery which is susceptible to tipping would put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Determine the weight of each and every scissor cross-section. This is vital to determining the weight and length of the scissor lift you would need as well as the overall stability of the machinery. When completely extended, determine the angle between the scissor arms measured against the ground or horizontal level.