Help me rescue this adjustable desk project

[Why Not Indeed]

I've been working on this for months, finally got it finished:

As you can see, it's a desk that moves up and down along some Unistrut fixed the wall, with the help of a winch pulling a steel cable.
Unfortunately the pulley mechanism is not up to the task and has failed in use, so I am looking for an alternative lifting mechanism.
I looked at telescopic bottle jacks but the range is nowhere near enough, so now I am considering a hydraulic ram like this [there are many, many listings for identical products]:

Hydraulic Long Ram Hoist Jack 8Ton Pump Lift Replace Spare Engine Crane Workshop 736542694871 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hydraulic Long Ram Hoist Jack 8Ton Pump Lift Replace Spare Engine Crane Workshop at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

as it is self-contained and would cover [just...] the range I think I need [about 400mm difference between sitting and standing positions].

Any other ideas or inspiration?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Any other ideas or inspiration?

Have you considered a long threaded bar, running on a bearing at the top, nut fixed to the work surface and a reverse-able motor to turn the rod?

I made a motorbike lift, using that principle.

 

[Koolpc]

 

[big-all]

is the only dead load what we see or does it need to lift with other heavy loads on the surface ??

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Electric lift mechanism, such as an Auton pop-up (used for hide away TVs) would be suitable, but expensive. They used to do models capable of lifting about 70kg. Alternatively what about a ratchet winch

 

[Old Salt]

An electric winch would be more than capable. Lots of choice on amazon from about £95 upwards.

The biggest problem is that you need to try to get a double lift, one for each side of the desk. So you need to come up with a synchronised method of raising the desk rather than the central lift that you have.

Take a look at how its done on a 3D printer.

 

[big-all]

i was thinking an old fashioned solution

clothes airer on a pully at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Talk about overkill, just buy a second hand sitting/standing desk.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

is the only dead load what we see or does it need to lift with other heavy loads on the surface ??

Monitor, laptop, keyboard, phone, drinks vessels, etc. Probably another 20kg at most. There would also be the dynamic load of me leaning on it when I'm tired.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Talk about overkill, just buy a second hand sitting/standing desk.

Where's the fun in that? This is DIYnot, not BuyitoffeBaynot.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

What actually failed? The cable or the winch? In which case just upgrade either. Or something else? What's all that junk at the top?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

i was thinking an old fashioned solution

clothes airer on a pully at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

I've got one of those and even unloaded they are quite a bit of weight to shift. I did basically this but with U-groove pulleys with ball bearings and steel cable. The pulleys were fixed to the wall with M8 anchors, and that's the bit that failed - they both bent the same way and the cable jumped out. Gravity ensues.

 

[foxhole]

I bought one of these for Mrs sewing/cutting table .
Probably a cheaper than all that ugly metalwork .
https://amzn.eu/d/41FZgrV

 

[Why Not Indeed]

The floor is a bit bouncy in this room which is why I wanted it wall-mounted.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

What's all that junk at the top?

"Shelf" made of 2x3s for amp + speakers.