Sovella Existing Workbench (15 sizes)

Last crawled date: 7 years ago

Here is the existing table for everyone to download and use.
(This is NOT a contest entry)

In the Solidworks file it has "configurations" for every size that this table is made in. There are 15 sizes for the top and 10 sizes for the frame. One of the requirements of the challenge is that the movement mechanism works with most or all of the sizes.

At the top of the file tree select the "configuration" tab (two yellow cubes) and double click on the size you want.

The height is unrestrained, but if you want to set it open the "mates" at the bottom of the tree and unsuppress either "UPPER-HEIGHT" or "LOWER-HEIGHT"

Also posting a variety of sizes in Step files. Other Step table sizes are here
Sovella, existing workbench

Really thinking here that the optimum position for the hand crank is already defined by the existing table. Any deviation from that is going to be a negative. Underneath, on the side, it just doesn't work. This is a workbench, it has to be placed in any possible location and the only area of the table that is always accessible to reach a hand crank is the front side.

Strongly suggest that everyone look at the catalog of this table. (note the other languages besides English)
http://www.sovella.com/comEnglish/ProductCatalogue/
There are about a dozen accessories that attach to this table. You need to know the locations of all these to see if your design is going to interfere. Also if you look at the pictures on the challenge you can see the existing mechanism is pretty compact underneath leaving a lot of legroom and room for drawer cabinets, footrests, keyboard trays etc.

I don't think anyone has a monopoly on the various types of drive mechanisms since they are all simple machines first discovered by the 15th century. The concept is not as important as designing the concept to meet all of the requirements. If someone comes in first thing and declares they have sole use of a concept, and they do not develop it to meet all the requirements, then that detracts from the entire challenge.

Here are the ones I've seen and come up with so far. Everyone should feel free to use any of them.

1.Scissor jacks, one, two or four. Need shafts and gears to get the drive handle to proper position.

2.Crank to worm gear to shaft to rack and pinion on each end leg.

3.Crank to worm gear to shaft to each end with cable reels at end legs

4.Crank to cable winch (with brake), cables through pulleys to end legs

5.Manual hydraulic pump with 2 or 4 hydraulic cylinders.

6. Crank to worm gear to shafts to each end to gears on vertical screws at the end legs. This is the existing design.

To make cranking effort easier, stored energy is springs, most likely coil springs, compression and extension. Possibly torsion springs. Another possibility is gas springs (gas charged strut cartridges). With the wide range of weight and the 400mm travel, springs are going to be difficult but not impossible. Think garage doors (some have a coil spring under torsion) and hatch struts on cars. The potential weight differences between the smallest and largest table may call for different weight springs or some kind of spring adjustment.

(Edit)
7. Crank to shaft to 2 sprockets to chains to each end to sprockets to gears to vertical screws in end legs.

(Edit 12-25)
8. Hand crank to worm gear to transverse shaft to sprockets and chains in end legs