Maximizing lab storage space for equipment

[sgbaird]

I.e., maximizing vertical space in addition to square footage.

Would this type of system still work for vibration sensitive equipment? (Aside: I'm thinking of Dr. Davis' custom AFM vibration isolation system, which involves suspending the equipment from above with a large weight keeping tension on the equipment lines.

[sgbaird]

Lift systems

Keywords

• Vertical carousel
• Ferris wheel
• vertical lift system
• motorized lift shelving
• garage storage platform lifter
• vertical conveyor belt

Informational

• https://us.blog.kardex-remstar.com/vertical-lift-modules-vs-vertical-carousels

Vertical Lift System

Usually more for spooled items, small items. There are pantry types. Maybe doesn't have a good way to handle electrical connections, and probably more geared towards consumables than equipment.

Carvana! A vertical lift system for cars / car vending machine (thanks to Victoria Baird for mentioning the kind of system they use)

(source: https://townsquare.media/site/87/files/2020/10/Carvana.jpg)

Check out the video showing their conveyor system (see also directly on YouTube).

Some things that stick out to me:

• all cars come with a "substrate", the "arm" is in the center, and the cars are positioned on the four sides
• cars are approximately the same size, so considerations need to be taken into account for equipment of widely varying sizes
• these cars are not "plugged in" at any point, so power is still an issue. See Maximizing lab storage space for equipment #195 (comment).

Garage storage lifters

These seem promising. If these had three levels of shelving, you could adjust any of the three levels to standing height, making it relatively easy to access three types of equipment (i.e., tripling the square footage in some sense).

Products

• Vertical Lift Modules
  • Kardex Shuttle 250/500
  • Modula Lift
  • Modula Slim
• Vertical Carousels
  • Kardex Megamat 180
• Horizontal
  • https://www.autostoresystem.com/

[sgbaird]

Power

Equipment needs to be powered, so this discussion is about how to power equipment when it's being moved to better utilize vertical space.

Considerations

• What are the purposes for bringing equipment out?
  • maintenance/modification
  • troubleshooting
  • teaching (i.e., pointing out things, watching it)
• Should all equipment remain powered on always?
• Is it OK if equipment gets turned off temporarily during the transfer?
• What power ranges are necessary for the equipment?

Wireless charging

Wireless charging is one option, but it might be an issue (not available/too expensive) for higher-power equipment.

• https://www.deltaww.com/en-US/products/Industrial-Battery-Charging/5776

Substrate adapter

There could be some adapter that attaches to each piece of equipment. This introduces complexity in terms of needing to connect and disconnect the adapters. Still, it's less complex if a standard-sized "substrate" has a fixed position outlet on one side, making it easier to position and connect the power (e.g., magnetic connection). The power adapter could even be on the bottom of the substrate so that by placing the substrate on top of a platform, the leads are connected and power is supplied (similar to an old phone being placed into its charging station).