Capture for sandwich panels: types and making by hand

The sandwich panel grab is a device that increases the speed of construction and home decoration. This device helps to raise individual sheets to the desired height. You can do without grabs. However, the risk of injury and changes in geometry, violation of the integrity of the panel itself, increases the laboriousness of the slinging process.

What is a gripper and what it is

Sandwich panels lack elements that would facilitate their movement in the air vertically and horizontally, maintaining a vertical position - as, for example, reinforced concrete panels.

Therefore, when assembling the material, use special equipment - grips .

Grippers are various kinds of devices that attach sandwich panels to lifting machines and deliver them to the required level.

SIP-panels - rather fragile material . Therefore, the gripping device must ensure its integrity and careful movement. Other requirements are also imposed on the equipment:

• sufficient strength of the grip, which will ensure the retention of the load even with a sharp actuation of the crane cable brake;
• convenience of work with building material, the ability to turn, align when installing.

Several types of gripping devices are used in the work:

• textile slings;
• mechanical grippers;
• vacuum apparatus.

Table 1. Cost of grippers of different designs.

Note! The cost of these devices varies considerably.

The most expensive are vacuum devices used by construction companies. The latter are more convenient to rent, since they are unlikely to be more useful on the farm.

Textile slings

This is one of the most common and simple devices for moving loads. Slings are made of lifting tape with a width of 30 mm . The belts are colored in a specific color depending on the breaking strength.

The second type of slings - round strands . They are used for fragile and valuable goods, with soft edges and painted, polished surfaces. These slings are a shell, inside of which there are very strong strands of polyester. Their number depends on the lifting capacity of the tool.

Textile slings are manufactured in accordance with GOST, and must be accompanied by a passport and a guarantee.

Prices for webbing slings

Belt slings

Textile slings have a number of advantages:

• lightness;
• flexibility;
• minimal damage to the polymer coating;
• affordable price;
• the ability to use even at temperatures to -60 ° С .

Lack of grip - damage of the threads on the sharp edges that sandwich panels have, especially those made of metal. Therefore, the grippers must be constantly inspected for damage.

However, textile slings also have disadvantages. Usually, the panels on the site are flat.

Therefore, there are difficulties with the installation of slings. Similar problems arise with pinning. It is necessary to remove the tapes so that the sheet does not fall and the orientation does not change.

Attention! This gripper is not recommended for moving sandwich panels of great length. The prohibition is due to the fact that the branches of the sling do not form an angle that would ensure reliable fixation of the moved load.

In addition, a strong bend occurs, which can damage the building material.

Mechanical type of grippers

Mechanical grippers are divided according to the following characteristics:

• grippers mechanical type - lever, clamp, etc.;
• lifting capacity - up to half a ton kg;
• opening width - depends on the thickness of the wall or roofing material;
• frame construction - thick-sheet or tubular.

Clamp Gripper

This is a classic tool for loading and moving various objects. The components of the tool are the screw mechanism and the main frame.

This type of grip allows you to move sandwich panels weighing up to 200 kg , thickness up to 200 mm .

At the heart of the gripper-clamp is a C-shaped frame. It can be telescopic to make the equipment more functional. An eyelet is welded to the frame from above, into which a steel ring is attached. Up to 3 holes are drilled in one side wall for threaded bushings.

On the opposite side there is a pad made of corrugated rubber for better grip on the plate surface.

A handle is inserted into the threaded hole of the sleeve, at the end of which there is also a corrugated pad rubber. To fix the panel, rotate the handle until the weight is securely fixed. The compression force is controlled by the movable element. The presence of the regulating mechanism protects the building material from damage.

Clamping grip is usually bright colors - yellow, red. Painting in these colors is a requirement of safety rules .

If there is a need to install long panels, use traverse (this is the name of the crossbeam).

When working with such a clamp, it is necessary to take into account the following factors:

• the one-sided clamping force is from 70% of the total mass of the lifted load;
• the larger the rubber pad, the less likely the panel will be damaged;
• tubular frames reduce the overall weight of the gripper, although the load-bearing capacity is not reduced by this.

If the carrying capacity of the clamping grip is less than 250 kg , then the role of the C-shaped pit is played by a threaded rod with a diameter of from 32 mm .

Sliders move along it, one surface of which is covered with a rubber layer.

Lever clamp

This mechanical grip is less common. The device has the form of a one-sided breaking lever, on which two elements are located - a rod and a rocker arm. In this case, one slider is passive, the other is active. It is the second slider that regulates the width of the throat.

The clamping part of the rocker arm is finished with rubber, as in the clamping models.

The other gripping surface is on the opposite side of the arm. A ring is welded to the top of the lever. When pulling on the ring, its own weight presses on the rocker and it lowers, the pull moves towards the sandwich panel. The load is held by the technical tension of the lever as long as the crosshead is in the air.

Part of the rare use of this mechanism is due to the need for more strict care . At the same time, this is a tool with a good carrying capacity, which is at least 350 kg .

Attention! Lever grips are dangerous to use when the air temperature is below zero.

"In the lock"

This type of grip is used relatively rarely , although it exists for a long time, and is a "thorn-groove" shape. For movement, the panel is placed on spacers along its entire length.

This method is applicable only when the panels are to be installed horizontally.

Locking is quite dangerous when rigging. If the panel is displaced, there is a possibility of failure of the lock, as a result of which the sandwich panel may break off. Fastening "in the lock" is not used for long items.

Through drilling

This grip is used when vertical mounting of panels is to be done.

The sandwich panels are drilled, a grip pin is inserted into the hole. The holes that have formed in this case are then hidden behind fittings or fasteners.

This gripping method has many disadvantages:

• the building material is damaged;
• it is not always possible to achieve accurate hole drilling with both sides;
• it is necessary to place the pin at an angle 90 ° to the plane of the panel and parallel to the lifting mechanism.

This lifting method cannot be used for long and heavy panels.

Vacuum grippers

Vacuum lifting equipment is designed to lift loads that have a non-porous structure and do not let air through.

These include sandwich panels. The principle of operation of this equipment is based on the application of the force that is generated by vacuum.

This is the most difficult lifting equipment, since a special drive is used in its design.

The gripper consists of the following parts:

• piston;
• cylinder;
• suction cup;
• camera;
• chain link;
• control valve.

The device is suspended from the crane hook.

When the suction cup is applied to the working surface of the panel, the piston is lowered and air from the cylinder is forced out through the hole in the valve.

When the suction nozzle contacts the surface of the load, the rod traction is lowered. Then the limit switch closes the valve opening, and the pressure in the cylinder rises, which increases when the panel is pressed.

Attach the panel to the working part of the vacuum equipment as follows:

• put a suction cup on the surface;
• turn on the pump in pumping mode air;
• the suction cup adheres tightly to the sandwich panel.

Help! Sometimes the suction cups are in the form of flat plates.

They contain many holes, each of which is designed for one piece.

The suction cup itself consists of a cover and a sealing ring made of rubber, other elastic materials - silicone or nitrile. Usually, the suction cups are convex, less often - in the form of a rectangular bowl.

The benefits of vacuum grippers include the ability to use them on all materials that have the correct surface geometry. Another plus is that the probability of damage is minimal .

The device can operate at a wide range of temperatures, and even at negative temperatures, if certain requirements are met. There is a possibility of using with any kind of lifting mechanism. The lifting method is vertical, horizontal.

Among the disadvantages are noted:

• limited attraction force per unit area;
• the structure is highly elastic, therefore, the positioning accuracy is not always accurate;
• it takes some time to build up the vacuum.

Perhaps the main advantage of the vacuum equipment is that it becomes possible to conduct mounting in an inclined plane .

Such a need arises, for example, when installing roof fences. The profiling method is not important here.

To keep the load on the machine lifting the load evenly, the suction cups are placed in the very center of the panel. If several such elements are used, then they are distributed evenly. The possibility of using more than one suction cup allows you to move rather heavy objects, while their thickness does not matter.

This is another significant advantage of vacuum grippers.

Such equipment is also convenient in that it provides a high degree of work safety. Even if there is an emergency shutdown of the equipment. Some mechanisms are equipped with backup nodes that allow holding the lifted loads for a long time.

Vacuum grippers allow the panels to be turned even at 360 ° .

It also saves work time and increases productivity because you can attach the suction cups directly from the package.

Prices for vacuum suction cups

Vacuum suction cup

Safety measures when working with vacuum grippers

Before starting work, carefully study the manufacturer's instructions for using the equipment. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in serious injury and even death .

The following parameters must be taken into account:

• lifting capacity;
• dead weight;
• the degree of compensation of unevenness;
• the possibility of rotation;
• the operating temperature range and weather conditions.

If the cargo is protected with a film covering, it is removed before starting work.

The suction cups are checked for cracks and other damage, if necessary, cleaned and degreased. To do this, you cannot use chemical compounds that can damage rubber material - solvents, gasoline, etc.

An additional safety device is used with vacuum grippers if there is only one vacuum circuit on the device. Belts are straps with hooks that cling to the grapple. The area of ​​intended contact is always cleaned and dried before the suction cup is applied to it.

Before starting and after completing work, be sure to charge the battery.

Caution Do not use the gripper, if the vacuum gauge shows weak adhesion, a warning signal sounds.

Safety rules for the installation of sandwich panels

Before starting work, prepare workplaces:

• mark hazardous areas ;
• enclose openings;
• hang up signs that warn of danger;
• install construction scaffolding, the height of the fence should not exceed 1m;
• if work is to be done at night or in cloudy weather, provide sufficient illumination of the working areas.

Attention! At the preparatory stage, slings and grips with a double load are checked.

Adults over 18 years of age are allowed to work with sandwich panels.

They must complete a safety course.

Consider weather conditions , especially wind speed.

There are two methods of panel mounting - vertically and horizontally . The method is chosen before starting work.

Do not lift loads if their mass is higher than what is allowed by the grab.

It is forbidden :

• operation of faulty or under-equipped equipment;
• use lifting equipment if the data on the carrying capacity is poorly read;
• lift damaged loads;
• lift loads when people are underneath.

When moving in any direction of sandwich panels using mechanization, lifting is possible only in its longitudinal position. The gripping devices cling to the sheets on the side, less rigid, walls.

Prices for sandwich panels

Sandwich panels

How to make a grip yourself

If it is not possible to purchase a gripper in the store or rent it, then you can make the device yourself .

A homemade tool consists of the following parts:

• lever - controls the compression force;
• clamping lips;
• movable element - drives the clamping lips;
• main frame.

Homemade clamp - step by step instructions

You can make a clamp from a children's wooden hanger. To do this, you need:

• hanger;
• two pins.

The clamp is made in the following sequence:

Step 1. The hanger is divided into two equal parts.

Step 2.

Mark places on it, where you want to insert the pins.

Step 3. Drill holes.

Step 4. Make a groove for lock nuts, insert the nuts.

Step 5. Insert the threaded rods and fix nuts.

Video - Working with vacuum grippers

We also advise you to pay attention to our article dedicated to - Facade dowels, where we examined the types of dowels. as well as their own installation.

Rigging is associated with increased risk.

Therefore, it is necessary to use homemade clamps only in extreme cases and when working with small panels. However, even in this case, it is necessary to follow the safety regulations in order to prevent injury to people working on the construction site.