How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
The length of a scissor jack lift is proportional to the scissor support weight as well as the integrity of the steel cross sections over the length. The scissor structures length and weight are corollaries, meaning that the former determines the latter for a stable scissor jack. An extreme instance of this to illustrate the point will be a 20-foot lift length which is featherweight made from Styrofoam which is pretty much weightless. It definitely will not be able to support at much of a height and could not support a lot at all.
In order to calculate scissor lift length, determine how high in the air you need to support a platform which will support of the weight of the occupants and objects on the platform along with the platform's weight.
In order to reach the required height within the weight support parameters, the number of cross sections of scissor folding supports sections that would be required to be extended at their full extension. Lastly, you would never want to ascend a few workers up on a platform along with their supplies that is on a platform supported by any type of structure which is unstable since clearly any machine that is susceptible to tipping will really put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Each and 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 entirely extended, determine the angle between the ground or horizontal level against the scissor arms measured.