How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
A scissor jack lift's length is proportional to the weight of the scissor support along with the integrity of the steel cross sections more than the length. The scissor structure's weight together with the length is corollaries of each other; hence, the former determines the latter for a stable scissor jack. An extreme example of this to show the point will be a 20-foot lift length that is featherweight made from Styrofoam that is pretty much weightless. It certainly could not support at much of a height and could not support much at all.
Determine how high in the air the platform would be lifted to calculate or determine the length of the scissor lift required to support the weight of both occupants and objects on the platform in relation to the weight of the platform.
The number of cross-sections of scissor folding supports sections that will be required to be extended at their full extension to be able to reach the needed height within the weight support parameters. Lastly, you would never want to ascend some workers up on a platform with their materials that is on a platform supported by any kind of structure which is not stable because clearly any machine that is susceptible to tipping will really put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Determine the weight of each scissor cross-section. This is very important to determining the weight and length of the scissor lift you will need along with the overall stability of the machinery. When entirely extended, determine the angle between the ground or horizontal level against the scissor arms measured.