New build, 60x60 steel Steam Engine workshop w/ bridge crane

[Brad_K]

I'm getting ready to put up the building I've been planning for about 6 years now. This will be a machine shop and workshop for maintaining, repairing, and restoring my collection of antique tractors and steam engines.
It will be a 60'x60' steel building, 20' to the eaves, concrete slab.
Long term vision is to put in a 34' wide by 56' long overhead bridge crane with at least a 17' hook height. I will also partition off a 20'x60' bay for the machine shop and using a 10' high steel mezzanine to frame it in. The mezzanine will also have a 15'x16' extension that I'll use as a paint booth and landing platform for the bridge crane.
I will also have radiant heat in the floor, and I will put A/C in the machine shop partition to keep the machines from sweating in the summer humidity.

Here are some of the mock-ups and my CAD floor-plans, as well as my CAD design concept for the crane and mezzanine.

Here is my CAD floor-plan, showing the overhead crane and the mezzanine that will be used to frame in the machine shop and an office.

Here's I'm starting to fill my model... and the building is already TOO SMALL!!! There's a mock-up of my 1920 Minneapolis steam traction engine, a 4-post car lift, some pallet racks, a forklift, milling machine...

 

[LXCam]

Oh count me in as watching. Good luck!

 

[Brad_K]

Here's a clearer view of the crane and mezzanine framing. I already have all the steel for the columns and runway beams, but I'll have to purchase and fabricate the bridge beams, trucks, rails, outriggers, and the mezzanine frame.

The crane structure can easily support a single 3-ton bridge/hoist. The columns can handle two separate 3-ton bridges. I still have to finish the calculations on the runways to see if they'll support 2 separate bridges, and I'd really like to have a second bridge, but it's not a deal breaker.

This is a free-standing crane, so it needs outriggers for the lateral loads due to the hoist trolley movement and impact. The machine shop side of the crane outriggers will be integrated into the mezzanine framing. The structure will also have bracing in the center bay for longitudinal loading/impact. This will likely be a hand powered bridge and chain hoist, but I will design the first bridge heavy enough to put an electric hoist and trolley later. I'll also purchase or design the bridge trucks to be upgraded to electric drive.

 

[sberry]

Put doors in gable ends vs eve sides.

 

[jeepxj]

yea you're gona want more space.

 

[Brad_K]

It's been almost a year, and my building isn't up yet, but I've at least broken ground. Here's an update on the site work. I hired an excavator to cut out the hillside in my yard and level the building site. The site is about 80' x 100'. I have put in a "bin block" retaining wall that will be 20' away from the building sides. Here are some photos and a link to the progress videos I have put on Youtube.

Site clearing, tree cleanup:

Unloading all the bin blocks:

Excavating the site:

 

[Brad_K]

Here are some recent screenshots of my CAD layout. Not a lot of changes, so I guess I've become satisfied that I've planned out as much as I can. Second photo shows some of the outdoor appliances I'm planning for. Propane tank to supply the boiler for the floor heat and the standby generator. Outdoor shack for the air compressor and dryer. Mini-split system to cool the machine shop partition...

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

I like the layout Brad, it looks like your on the right track, looking forward to future up dates.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[zmotorsports]

Subscribed. Looks like it will be awesome.

 

[ODIS]

I’m with Z & Hop Yard on this one! Should be a great thread to follow.

Thank you.