This article takes an in depth look at adjustable work benches.
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An adjustable work bench is a tool that allows the user to adjust and regulate the height of the work surface to a more ergonomic and comfortable position for the safe and effortless performance of work. The many varieties of adjustable work benches include ones capable of holding over a ton and can be preset to automatically move to the user's preferred height.
Employers are concerned about the health and safety of their workers and search for ways to increase efficiency while eliminating discomfort and unnecessary strain. A key part of their efforts is an investment in adjustable work benches to prevent muscle strain and other work related injuries.
The unique nature of adjustable work benches allows users to choose different types of tops to precisely fit the needs of their work with ones made of steel and plastic, while others have tops made of traditional wood. Aside from the different types of tops, adjustment mechanisms for adjustable work benches vary from hand crank varieties to ones that have remote controls.
Every work environment demands equipment that meets the specifications of a project and conforms to the needs of workers. This particular requirement is one of the reasons that adjustable work benches have gained such great popularity due to the fact that they are flexible enough to fit any situation or working conditions.
The many types of adjustable work benches are categorized by their types of tops, method of adjustment, and whether they are used in experimental laboratories and cleanrooms or designed for heavy duty work such as repairing equipment and machinery. Work bench manufacturers constantly perfect designs and develop adjustable work benches to fit unique and unusual manufacturing processes.
There are different varieties of portable adjustable work benches depending on the design of their lifting mechanism. Portable adjustable work benches can be moved and positioned for applications where the material to be worked cannot be conveniently brought to the bench. Due to the nature of the mechanism of adjustable work benches, portable ones have castors or wheels to allow for ease of movement and positioning.
Portable adjustable work benches have a small hydraulic mechanism for height adjustment or a crank. The most common configuration is the crank type.
The plain adjustable height work bench does not have a crank, hydraulics, or other mechanisms for height adjustment. Each of the four legs has two pins on which the support of the legs rests. The height of the work bench is adjusted manually and is normally lifted in one position to meet the needs of the user. Once set, plain benches are seldom readjusted. Of the many forms of adjustable work benches, the plain type is the simplest and is designed for heavy workloads.
The legs of plain or simple adjustable work benches are made of solid steel with a rectangular frame underneath the work surface. They come in surface lengths of four, six, or eight feet.
Workers in scientific and experimental work environments tend to be at their workstations for extended periods of time, which necessitates the use of ergonomic work surfaces. There are several different designs for scientific workstations, with ones that have an electrically activated height adjustment, manual crank adjustments, and ones that combine manual cranks with hydraulics.
The essential feature of scientific workstations is being easy to operate and quickly adjusted to meet the needs of the staff. Legs and supports must be sturdy, level, and secure. Though they seldom handle heavy loads, stability is necessary to avoid spills and damage to the materials being studied or tested.
Simple flat surface heavy duty adjustable work benches have a hand crank for making height adjustments with an adjustable height of 30 inches to 42 inches. Much like all adjustable work benches, heavy duty ones offer a choice of the type of surface. The hand crank can be positioned on the right or left front support. The work bench has a load limit of 750 pounds and can come with a footrest and modesty panel.
Work on electronics requires precision and can be tedious since it necessitates long periods of concentration making incremental adjustments. If a work bench is at the wrong height, a technician is required to be bent over, extending their arms to reach the workpiece. Having an adjustable work bench offers a more comfortable positioning of the technician and allows for frequent adjustments of the workpiece using the table's height controls.
Since electronics‘ work includes several tools, components, computers, visual assistance devices, and lighting, electronics‘ work benches have compartments for storing components and tools as well as multiple electric outlets. The height adjustment is smooth and controlled and normally includes some form of electronic height control.
The assembly of wire harnesses requires several wires or conductors that are in strands or bunches covered with insulating material. The wires are bound together and held in place by tubing, cable ties, or braiding. Wire harnesses are ideal for keeping electrical assemblies organized. In order to assemble these useful and necessary components, a special adjustable work bench is required due to the many bunches of wires and tubing.
Wire harnesses assembly includes specially designed work benches that can tilt and raise and lower in order to position the wires and other components. The adjustment mechanism on wire harness adjustable work benches can be manual or electronic depending on the requirements of the technician.
As seen in the image below, electronic adjustments for wire harness assembly adjustable work benches can be as simple as a foot pedal.
In accordance with the need to provide workstations that protect the workers‘ health, manufacturers have developed desks that have all the features of a desk with the resilience of a work bench. Desks need storage areas for personal items, files, paperwork, and a large surface. Work benches have to be sturdy, durable, and capable of holding heavy workpieces.
The desk and work bench requirements have been combined into a complex and technologically sophisticated crank adjustable work bench that has all the features of a desk with a load capacity of 750 pounds. It is a type of work bench that can fit into an office setting or laboratory.
An electrostatic discharge adjustable work bench has a static dissipative surface, which is used in electronically charged environments for the safety of workers. Where high voltage is present, touching a conductive work surface can be dangerous. For safety reasons, high resistance dissipative work benches are a necessity.
An ESD adjustable work bench has a resistance value of 1.0 x 109 Ω but may have a value that is less than 1.0 x 106 Ω. ESD work benches are an essential and necessary component in electronics manufacturing or repair environments.
The adjustable work benches listed above are only a sampling of the many varieties that are available. With the concern for worker health ever increasing and the need to provide worker friendly conditions, adjustable work benches have become a necessity. In many cases, adjustable work bench manufacturers are producing custom designed adjustable work benches to fit the needs of unique and unusual work conditions.
The work surface of an adjustable work bench must be designed to fit the needs of workpieces and be strong enough to hold them. Adjustable work bench tops are made from a wide variety of materials to conform to the requirements of any application. Though the term work bench indicates that its surface is impenetrable, unique work, such as scientific, cleanroom, and technical, do not require a sturdy surface but one that is smooth and balanced.
The types of work surfaces for adjustable work benches range from simple laminated heavy duty plywood to ones made of stainless steel. The more stressful the type of work, the more rigid and rugged will be the work surface of the work bench.
Butcher block work bench tops are used for educational purposes, laboratories, and certain industrial applications. They are long lasting and can be refinished when they reach a certain point of wear. Butcher block adjustable work bench surfaces are glued, kiln dried, cured, and sanded then finished with a surface protectant. They come in birch, ash, and maple woods each of which has its benefits.
ESD adjustable work bench surfaces are manufactured with static control properties supported by high density plastic glides. There are several different types of laminates used to produce ESD work bench surfaces. During the production of ESD surfaces, they are tested for their electrical conductivity and adjusted to eliminate any potentiality of conductivity.
The use of stainless steel for adjustable work benches is for applications that involve heavy assembly and manufacturing. They have steel frames with a surface resistant to chemicals and corrosion. The non-porous properties of stainless steel work benches make them ideal for food processing since stainless steel is easy to clean and moisture resistant.
Steel adjustable work bench tops are highly durable and strong, capable of handling heavy loads. To enhance the properties of steel, tops are treated with a powder coat to protect against oil and stains. Most adjustable steel work benches have an adjustment of 27 inches to 36 inches and can be manually adjusted in one inch increments. Steel topped adjustable work benches have level adjusters to ensure a level surface on uneven floors.
Wood adjustable work bench tops are the oldest and most common types. They are made from several varieties of wood and can be mounted on a metal frame or all wood. The adjustment mechanism for wood adjustable work benches takes many shapes from ones with scissor lifts to ones with hand cranks.
The use of wood topped adjustable work benches for industrial applications are determined by the type of finish on the wood since wood exposed to constant use gets scarred and loses its finish. Depending on the frame of the work bench, a wood adjustable work bench can hold a load of up to one ton.
Plastic topped adjustable work benches provide an extremely smooth even surface resistant to burns, stains, and impact damage. The tight seal on the plastic tops prevents warping due to exposure to moisture. There are several varieties of plastic topped benches, with ones that have manual adjustments and others with electric and hydraulic mechanisms.
The frames of plastic topped work benches, especially those for industrial use, are made of heavy duty steel.
The ergonomic aspect of an adjustable work bench is its ability to be set at different heights to match the height of a worker or technician. This particular feature is unique to adjustable work benches but is achieved in different ways. The adjustment mechanisms of adjustable work benches include simple manual ones to complex hydraulics.
The different ways to adjust adjustable work benches are built into the table whether it is slots along the legs to insert tabs or bolts or scissor lift hydraulics. Though other methods for height adjustment are being used to overcome muscle stress for workers, adjustable work benches tend to be the most practical.
With the slot method for adjusting the height of an adjustable work bench, each leg of the bench has punched slots that allow incremental height adjustments of one inch. Adjustable heights can range from 30 inches to 40 inches.
To make adjustments, the work bench legs have to be raised and the bolts or spacers removed. The desired height is measured from the surface of the table. The legs are pulled out or pushed in to match the desired height. Once the height is reached, the bolts or spacers are reinserted and secured.
Manually adjusted adjustable work benches have a frame made from heavy duty 13 to 16 gauge steel with capacities of a half-ton to one ton.
Crank adjustable work benches are still manual but have a more convenient adjustment system that makes adjustments easier and more accurate than the slot method. The crank handle is connected to a gearbox. When the crank is turned, the gears in the gearbox turn a shaft that is connected to a set of shafts that run the full length of the legs and pushes up or down depending on how the crank is turned.
Hydraulic adjustable work benches use hydraulic cylinders to adjust the table‘s height. They can be electrical or crank with two or four cylinders. There are many versions of hydraulic adjustable work benches with electrical sockets, computers, shelves, and attached drawers. When activated, the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder forces the shaft attached to the leg of the table, under pressure, to elevate. When the pressure is released, the table lowers.
Depending on the number of hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic adjustable tables can lift up to 1000 pounds.
Scissor lift adjustable work benches are designed for heavy duty work and are capable of lifting heavy loads. Hydraulic or crank lift methods can be used with scissor lift adjustable work benches. In industrial settings, hydraulic scissor lift adjustable work benches are used to help with machine repair and lifting heavy equipment. For extra convenience, they come with wheels to make them portable for going to repair locations to move equipment into repair bays.
Electric height adjusting adjustable work benches use hydraulics or gears to raise and lower the table. The mechanism can be activated by a switch on the table or a foot pedal. Like crank adjustable work benches, electric ones allow for precision settings for the table surface and can be preset.
The adjustable height for electric adjustable work benches can be up to 12 inches with a load capacity of over 500 pounds. Several types of work surfaces and frames for electric adjustable work benches that include laminate, steel, stainless steel, and heavy density plastics.
The use of adjustable work benches is rapidly growing as concern focuses on worker health, efficiency, and productivity. Adjustable work bench ergonomic design and ease of operation make them an ideal solution for eliminating muscle related work injuries.
Certain industrial activities and technical repairs that require an employee or technician to stand in one spot for an extended period of time. Many of these conditions require dealing with precision work that necessitates concentration. Bending over to reach a workpiece causes tension on lower back muscles. Being able to adjust and position the workpiece within easy reach avoids muscle problems and enables a technician to easily complete their work.
Cleanrooms use adjustable tables and work benches since much of the work in a cleanroom require hours of testing, examining, and recording data and results. Having work benches that can be raised and lowered to accommodate the needs of technicians makes the work environment friendlier and more comfortable.
Adjustable work benches for cleanrooms are made of materials that do not absorb contaminants and are easily sterilized and cleaned. In most cases, work benches are made of stainless steel.
Industrial assembly involves bending, twisting, lifting, pushing, and pulling materials and workpieces. This variety of motions and positions require a workstation that reduces the strain caused by the constant motion, which are ideal conditions for adjustable work benches and their accessories.
Modern manufacturing and production focus on tools and equipment that are ergonomic and productive. These two essential aspects are keys to the success of an organization and its workers. Adjustable work benches are at the center of planners' designs when positioning the elements of an operation.
Shipping and packing involve using several materials of varying sizes, which have to be readily available. Adjustable work benches are used to store boxes, tape, wrapping paper, labels, and recordkeeping materials, each of which is within easy reach and instantly accessible. Efficient and ergonomic shipping and packing stations ensure immediate service for customers and a positive image for a company.
Conveyor adjustable work benches are designed to alleviate personnel of constantly handling and shifting materials. Repetitive muscular motions can be harmful and damaging to worker health.
Conveyor adjustable work benches have adjustments for their height but can also include tilting and rollers for instant transfer of workpieces. The main focus of conveyor work benches is to eliminate unnecessary physical exertion and motions. Work is performed smoothly and effortlessly with little stress on workers.
The electronics industry has special needs regarding the types of work benches they use since workers have to be protected from electrostatic discharges (ESDs). As with all manufacturing, the electronics industry involves handling, assembling, and testing of products and materials. Unlike other industries, the electronics industry has to ensure that workspaces are non-conductive and not electrically charged.
Adjustable work benches, aside from their ergonomic properties, provide ESD protection by using non-conductive work surfaces. During the assembly of adjustable work benches, work surfaces are tested for their conductivity and adjusted to remove the potential of random electrical charges.
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