How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
The length of a scissor jack lift is proportional to the support weight of the scissors as well as the integrity of the steel cross sections over the length. The scissor structures weight and length are corollaries, meaning that the former determines the latter for scissor jack stability. An extreme example of this to illustrate the point would be a 20-foot lift length which is featherweight made from Styrofoam that is practically weightless. It certainly could not support at much of a height and will not be able to support a lot at all.
Determine how high in the air the platform will be raised to calculate or determine the length of the scissor lift needed to support the weight of both occupants and objects on the platform in relation to the weight of the platform.
The number of cross-sections of scissor folding supports sections that would be necessary to be extended at their full extension in order to reach the needed height within the weight support parameters. Finally, you will never want to ascend a few employees up on a platform together with their supplies that is on a platform supported by any kind of unstable structure since clearly any machinery that is prone to tipping would really put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Every cross section should be weighed to determined the overall weight and length of the scissor lift in addition to the overall stability of the machinery. When completely extended, determine the angle between the ground or horizontal level against the scissor arms measured.