Am building a platform lift. I am using a 16 ft long by 21" wide plank. I am using a 8 pulleys in this system. See photo.http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/platform.jpg


I want the platform to raise up level. Is this the optimal set up? Is there another configuration (using more or less pulleys) that would be better.

Thank you kindly in advance,
Scott

Depends what you mean by "optimal." Adding more pulleys will lessen the tension in the rope, and therefore you wouold not need to pull as hard on the free end of the rope in order to raise the platform. However, it would also mean that you need a longer rope, and have to pull more rope through the pulley system to get the platform to rise a given amount. You also have an issue here if the platform is not evenly loaded with cargo - if one end end of the platform has more weight on it than the other you'll find that the platform will be impossible to keep stable, as the heavy end will sink and the light end rises. Better to use two ropes - one that runs through pulleys only at the left end and the other for the right end. That way you can apply different tensions to the two ropes as needed to control the platform.