How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
A scissor jack lift's length is proportional to the scissor support weight together with the integrity of the steel cross sections more than the length. The weight of the scissor structure together with the length is corollaries of each other; thus, the former determines the latter for a stable scissor jack. An extreme example of this to illustrate the point will be a 20-foot lift length that is featherweight made from Styrofoam which is pretty much weightless. It certainly will not be able to support at much of a height and can not support much at all.
In order to calculate the length of a scissor lift, determine how high in the air you have to support a platform which would support of the weight of the objects and occupants on the platform as well as the platform's weight.
The number of cross-sections of scissor folding supports sections which will be necessary to be extended at their full extension in order to reach the needed height within the weight support parameters. Finally, you would never want to ascend a few employees up on a platform along with their supplies which is on a platform supported by any kind of unstable structure as obviously any type of machinery that is susceptible to tipping would put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Every cross section must be weighed to determined the overall weight and length of the scissor lift in addition to the overall stability of the machine. When fully extended, determine the angle between the scissor arms measured against the horizontal or ground level.