Innovative Collaboration Brings New & Unique Workshop Crane to Market
Addressing a Common Problem
Penny Engineering faced a challenge shared by many when they received their 2-axis CNC lathe back in 2021. Robin Penny, Managing Director at Penny Engineering, explained: “Loading a bar over 15kg into our new machine was difficult due to the awkward arm positioning required. Using our forklift wasn’t ideal either, as it tied up the operator and posed a risk of damage or injury with any wrong move. We clearly needed a better solution.”
While Penny Engineering has considerable expertise in workshop crane design, they have limited experience with machining centres. They sought a trusted partner for the development of a new lathe crane and found Tyler Bros Ltd (Tybro), a local family business with over 100 years of experience in precision machining.
Tybro provided valuable feedback and access to a wide range of different makes and models of machines. This collaboration led to the creation of the MachineLoader 150, which is now in daily use in both the Penny Engineering and Tybro workshops and available for purchase through the Penny Engineering online shop.
Defining the Requirements
To solve a common loading problem for CNC lathes, Penny Engineering and Tybro got to work on specifying an innovative workshop crane. Their goal was to create a solution that would suit 75% of all small to medium-sized lathes, drills, and milling machines.
This meant that the new lathe crane would need to:
- Occupy minimal floor space & avoid obstructing the working area when not in use
- Support a working load limit of up to 150kg to handle most tasks
- Provide precise control for accurate operations
- Allow flexible mounting positions to suit various setups
- Ensure easy installation & simple operation
- Be cost-effective, considering many sites may require multiple installations
By focusing on these key requirements, Penny Engineering planned to develop a crane that would significantly improve the efficiency and safety of loading operations in workshops.
Manufacturing the Solution
When it came to manufacturing their new workshop cranes, the two companies focused on creating a design that was both robust and versatile.
Key manufacturing solutions included:
- Designing a baseplate that was compact yet strong enough to provide stability
- Mounting the crane boom on a high pillar to keep the working area clear & allow it to move above the machines
- Carefully selecting the location of the base to avoid obstructing trays & access panels often required for maintenance
- Creating a long and jointed boom for greater flexibility in mast placement, with the added benefit of being able to serve two adjacent machines
- Using chain blocks to ensure smooth & controllable lifting
Plus, with the unique knuckle joint design of the boom – a tried and tested feature of many Penny Engineering cranes – loads can be picked up at any point within the 2-metre radius of the pillar.
Achieving Outstanding Results
The collaboration between Penny Engineering and Tybro resulted in the development of an exceptionally flexible small lathe crane that stands out in the market. This innovative solution effectively replaces the need for much larger jib cranes, gantries, or folding workshop cranes – offering a more compact and versatile alternative.
The crane’s straightforward and robust design ensures both the initial purchase price and ongoing running costs are kept to a minimum, making it a budget-friendly choice for many organisations. Its ability to handle a variety of tasks with precision and ease further enhances its appeal, improving the efficiency and safety of a wide range of loading operations.
Are you considering installing a workshop crane to enhance operations within your premises?
Get in touch with our team to get started!
Loading heavy materials without breaking a sweat
Having a workshop crane has been a great addition to our shop floor so far. Our operators have found it straightforward to use with easy controls and can now load large blanks of material efficiently and safely into our machines without breaking a sweat. We would highly recommend this product to any other machining company wanting to improve the way they load heavy materials into their machines.
Mandy Tyler. Tybro
