Project Overview

Focus

Understand existing designs and why they work, not just what they look like.

Tasks

• Analyze commercial compact jibs (e.g., Orion Jr class):
  • Geometry
  • Materials
  • Counterweight ratios
  • Stiffness strategies
• Review DIY crane designs:
  • Identify common failure modes
  • Note design shortcuts and their consequences
• Extract approximate performance data:
  • Typical payload vs reach
  • Observed deflection and oscillation issues
• Identify what is not documented in commercial products and must be reasoned from first principles

Deliverables

• Benchmark table comparing:
  • Reach
  • Payload
  • Boom type
  • Counterweight strategy
• Annotated reference images highlighting structural decisions
• Short written summary: “What existing designs get right and where they compromise”