GettingStarted
Congratulations on your purchase of the Floorpocket stage lift from Creative Conners, Inc. Elevate your show by lifting scenery and performers with your Floorpocket. The Floorpocket has been designed to meet the rigorous demands expected from professional stage machinery.
This manual will direct you through:
- 1.Unpacking
- 2.Installing & Testing
- 3.Operation Procedures
- 4.Scheduled Maintenance
If you need help along the way contact us either on our website (www.creativeconners.com), via email ([email protected]), or by phone (401.289.2942 x2)
The Floorpocket can raise impressive loads effortlessly and swiftly from the trap room to the stage. Such power requires a great deal of respect and attentiveness to ensure that both performers and technicians are kept safe. Automated effects always carry significant risk, but the risk of injury is magnified when lifting scenery and people. Risks are further complicated when raising people and scenery through a hole. As you read this manual, you will see that many safeguards have been designed into both the machinery and controls of the Floorpocket, but this engineering rigor is only useful when leveraged by your diligent commitment to safety.
When used in the trap room of a typical production, a stage lift carries several major risks to people, scenery, or props. Some such examples include:
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Crushing Hazard When Lifting | Crushing Hazard When Lowering |
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Falling Hazard | Severing Hazard When Lowering |
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Tip-over Hazard | Overweight Hazard |
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Entanglement Hazard | |
If these images and the associated risks fill you with dread, that’s a healthy response. We share that dread and want to make sure you keep yourself and your stage safe. Throughout the manual, we will dive deeper into the safety systems included with the Floorpocket and how you can prevent injuries and avoid these hazards. Throughout this manual, watch for the Hazard Images listed above to indicate important notes regarding how you can mitigate these hazards.
The risks inherent in using a stage lift requires not only sound mechanics, but also sophisticated controls that are fully integrated into the machine for safe operation. The Floorpocket lift is designed to be used with all of the included safety features: FWD, REV, & ULT limits, machine guarding, and the Safety Interlock Box to incorporate safety mat and safe edge design. In addition to the physical safety features, the communication and feedback between the Stagehand Pro AC, Safety Interlock Box, Showstopper 3 Base, and Spikemark are paramount in creating a safe operating environment.
Although these safety features are included, they are not intended to be the only risk reduction incorporated into your installation. It is crucial to the safe operation of the Floorpocket that you also investigate the risks of their specific installation and take steps to reduce and eliminate those risks. This could include using the incorporated safety edge and safety mats, but may also require additional safety mats or bumpers. Based on the specific conditions, it may also require the creation and installation of a “lift box” to remove additional pinch points. It could also incorporate interlock switches to prevent a trap door from opening or closing if the lift is in an unsafe position.
In the end, although the machine is modular, each installation is unique and requires a critical eye in the planning, installation, and daily operation. Let’s dig into the details and discover how all the individual features of the machine and control system work in unison with the Stagehand Pro AC and Safety Interlock Box to raise the level of safety both above and below your stage.
- 1.Floorpocket Base Machine
- 2.6’ Mast Extension Tower
- 3.4 Leveling Feet
- 4.4 Removable Heavy Duty Casters - Move the Floorpocket around with ease. No need for a pallet jack.
- 5.Mast Safety Guard
- 6.Safety Mat
- 7.Trap Edge Safety Bumper Switches
- 8.All the hardware you need
- 9.(32) ⅝” x 2” hex head bolts
- 10.(6) ⅝” x 1-¼” hex head bolts
- 11.(4) ⅜” x 1-½” low-head cap screws, washers and Nylock nuts
- 12.(1) ½” x 5” socket-head cap screw, spacer, washer, and Nylock nut
- 13.⅝” washers and nuts
- 14.12” ModTruss washer plates
- 15.6” threaded ModTruss washer plates
- Modular rack and pinion design allows for the lift to be configured at different heights ranging from 6ft to 18ft tall.
- Designed to fit through most double doorways for easy load-in and strike
- Paired with bumper switches, pressure mat, and a Safety Interlock, the Floorpocket is able run safely and reliably.
- Capable of Synchronization - Use multiple lifts together using Spikemark’s Group Motion to move a larger platform with two or more lifts instead of purchasing a custom lift.
- 1000 lbs of lifting capacity at 14”/sec lifting speed.
- Redundant Brakes.
The Floorpocket is designed for lifting. It is composed of three primary components:
- 1.Base Tower
- 2.Extension Tower(s)
- 3.Motorized Platform
The Base Tower is small enough to be rolled through a standard double-door. It is the foundation of the lift and provides up to 6ft of vertical lift. The Base Tower is made up of the machine frame, leveling feet, guide tracks, and a gear rack that allows the Motorized Platform to climb the tower.
The Extension Tower(s) are bolted onto the Base Tower to reach heights up to 18’. Extension Towers are available in 1’ or 6’ increments. A maximum of two Extension Towers can be added to the Base Tower for a maximum 18’ of vertical lift. Both the Base Tower and Extension Tower are fitted with tracks and a gear rack.
The Motorized Platform climbs up the towers using the tracks and gear rack. The Floorpocket is capable of raising and lowering up to 1000 lbs of evenly distributed load at speeds up to 14” per second. Since all the mechanics are enclosed in the platform, the Floorpocket can easily be reconfigured to different heights by changing the arrangement of Extension Towers without affecting the 1000lbs load capacity. Let’s dig into what is included inside the Motorized Platform.
| The Motorized Platform is made up of a 5 HP gear motor that includes the motor-side brake and an integrated incremental encoder. The motor-side brake is the primary brake used to hold the load. The integrated incremental encoder is used for position, overspeed detection, as well as feedback for the Closed Loop Vector control. The Stagehand Pro AC uses these signals to automatically engage the brake if a fault is detected. The primary brake is also engaged anytime an E-Stop is pressed. |
Gearmotor, Primary Brake, and Encoder | |
| The load side brake is the secondary brake to the motor brake and protects against mechanical failure in the gear motor. The secondary brake is disengaged and engaged by the Stagehand Pro AC as well as any E-Stop signal. |
Load Side Brake | |
While the platform’s load capacity is 1000lbs of evenly distributed load, due to the cantilevered nature of the Floorpocket any one specific point should not exceed 500lbs. This becomes more apparent at the edge of the lift platform, especially if you decide to build a platform that expands past the original platform’s edge. If you have any concerns about how to load your scenery or people onto your Floorpocket, give us a shout via email at [email protected] or by calling 401-289-2942 x2.
Safety Note: A ladder or personnel lift should not be placed on the lifting platform, nor should any bracing be placed under the lifting platform for additional support unless approved by Creative Conners, Inc. The Floorpocket is not to be used as an equipment elevator.
Last modified 1yr ago