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I’ve been teaching kids about cranes and bridges since 1997 in Portland Oregon. This is NOT a shop class but an integrated math/engineering program.
Elliot Apatov
The kids learn basic engineering principles, how to apply basic trig etc. They get experience using tools as we build ;
BRIDGES
-8ft trusses
-12ft arch bridges
-20ft pony truss bridge
40ft suspension bridge
and lots of models
CRANES
-working models with an;
8ft long boom-includes a spot for the counter-weight ( that”s kyle as ctwt)
16ft boom- using 1000lbs for ctwt and a load of 3 kids sitting in the “skip”
Most of the bridges and crane on this web-site were built “erector set” style
Erector sets and meccano have been around for over 100 years. Using thin metal strips and small nuts and bolts, kids could build almost anything.
I use 1/4″ plywood, 2 1/2″ wide and small plastic angle connectors for my bridges and cranes.
I call the members BRIDGE BEAMS
Everything goes together with 8-32 machine screws and nuts.
And just like with Erector Sets, you can build abridge/crane, and then take it apart and build something new. Currently I’ve made a dozen new “structures”- see Tranformers.
Right now I have 3 kits;
.
1 THE LUFFER $750
2- 2 1/2 CRANES $1585
3- 8 TRUSS BRIDGES $1475