PLAYMOBIL MAN CRANE

[Madman]

Has anyone tried to add motors to the hook or traveler to one of these cranes?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Playmobil-7596-Portal-Crane-New-in-Box_W0QQitemZ270492670599QQcategoryZ2575QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D10%26ps%3D63

 

[stevedenver]

no -but i am certain it will be more work than you might imagine

i get inspired sometimes and then it just seems expensive and fiddly to do something-especially elegantly

-i would guess some sort of pulley for the lateral movement and some very small low geared motor for the winch-haven't a clue about rotation of the crane

 

[Madman]

I've been looking at Buhler motors, the same type motor that powers the Rigi cable cars. All Electronics has them. They are very powerful motors, and geared low. If I use some sort of strong but thin cable, I believe that I can get the carriage to travel along the beam. That looks like the simplest task. The hook will be somewhat tougher.