1. Form
1.1. What type of shape? What shape is the best choice?
1.1.1. Framed Structure?
1.1.1.1. Will a framed structure be able to easily withstand forces?
1.1.1.2. Will I have to use a lot of material?
1.1.1.3. Will my structure be too heavy?
1.1.2. Solid Structure?
1.1.2.1. Will a solid structure be able to withstand forces?
1.1.2.2. How much material do I need?
1.1.2.3. How heavy will it be?
1.1.3. Combination?
1.1.3.1. Well a combination structure withstand forces well?
1.1.3.2. How much material do I need?
1.2. Size of the shape?
1.2.1. How big will the base be?
1.2.1.1. What will the base be made out of?
1.2.2. How big will the arm be?
1.2.2.1. What will the arm be made out of?
1.3. What kinds of material should I use for each specific part of the crane?
1.3.1. Which materials will make my structure more stable?
1.3.2. Should I use a combination of materials or just 1 material?
1.4. How will the crane be able to pull things up?
1.4.1. What is going to be my counter-weight?
1.4.2. How am I going to support the 1KG?
2. Stability
2.1. Where is the center of gravity going to be in?
2.2. How do I make the COG lower?
2.2.1. Will a tall crane make my COG lower?
2.2.2. Will a shorter crane make my COG lower?
2.3. What structural components should I use to help support my structure?
2.4. How the I balance the weight of the 2 ends of the top of the crane?
2.5. What can I do to prevent structual failure?
2.5.1. What structural components should I have to increase the overall stability of my structure?
2.6. Should I have a big base or a small base?
2.7. Will the thickness of my structure affect the stability?
2.7.1. Should I layer my crane for extra structural stability?
2.8. Can my crane hold it's own weight?
2.9. Can my crane hold a weight by itself without a counter-weight?
2.10. Well I make my structure symmetric?
2.10.1. What are the advantages of having a symmetrical structure?
3. Function
3.1. What will this crane be used for?
4. Forces
4.1. How will my structure withstand internal forces?
4.1.1. What kind of structural components should I use?
4.1.2. What internal forces will be acting on my structure?
4.1.2.1. How will my structure withstand compression?
4.1.2.1.1. Will struts help withstand compression?
4.1.2.2. How will my structure withstand torsion?
4.1.2.2.1. What structural component will withstand torsion?
4.1.2.3. How will my structure withstand tension?
4.1.2.3.1. Will ties help withstand tension?
4.1.2.4. How will my structure withstand shear?
4.1.2.4.1. What structural component will withstand shear?
4.1.3. How will my structure hold the 2KG weight on the heli-pad?
4.1.3.1. Should I put extra support on my heli-pad?
4.1.4. How am I going to lift the weights up?
4.1.4.1. While i'm lifting the weights, will the crane tip over?
4.1.4.1.1. How do I make the crane not tip over?
4.2. How will my structure withstand external forces?
4.2.1. What external forces will affect my structure?
4.2.2. What strutural components will help strengthen my structure against these forces?