For lifting the 8" chucks for my lathe I built and installed a hoist using the motor from a garage door opener, its a 36 V motor, but I have a 18 V supply in the workshop, and it works(slowly) on that. It moves on a rail over both ends of the lathe so I can lift from either end. The rail is made up from 2 bits of angle iron (old bed frame), welded back to back, the rollers are four 1 1/2" ball races. It looks rough, but it works, and just made from stuff out of the junk box.
The lifting hook is on the R/H fall of chain, the chain on the L/H is the surplus tail just hung up out of the way.
I have thought about designing a method of power operating the movement back and forth along the rail, –maybe, one day.
Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 19/10/2017 13:00:24