Beam Deflection - 15 years and I finally broke down and wrote a how to.

[BeanAnimal]

I was over on the other forum - and made the mistake of getting involved in a "how long can a 2x6 span for my stand" thread... I dislike those threads. They are full of nonsense opinions, misapplied math and calculators and very hard to provide fast answers in.

I started to write this almost 15 years ago, but never got around to it until this week.

Beam Deflection – Easy Engineering for Aquarists | BeanAnimal's Reef

This easy to understand engineering lesson uses layman's terms and simple math to allow anybody calculate beam deflection for aquarium stands or other projects.

beananimal.com

It may have mistakes. I did not build a calculator or proofread yet... I may get that part in another 15 years. So short of somebody telling me that I made a HUGE error in calculations or something is way put of place, it is a finished work

 

[BeanAnimal]

Who are we kidding

You two didn't even click the link.
"Beam Deflection"

"Welp.. I have laundry to do... or something other than read that".

 

[Misled]

Hi Bill!!! I did!!

 

[kharmaguru]

Who are we kidding
View attachment 32391953

You two didn't even click the link.
"Beam Deflection"

"Welp.. I have laundry to do... or something other than read that".

I did but I definitely didn't read it. 'Wood is strong' pretty much sums up what I need to know.

 

[reefing102]

I clicked it. Got about to the calculations and thought to myself, this is why I buy prefab stands lol but looked like a good article though!

 

[OldReefGuy]

Nice.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I clicked it. Got about to the calculations and thought to myself, this is why I buy prefab stands lol but looked like a good article though!

Lol - well, I hope it made some sense. I honestly have no idea of these things help people or not.

 

[OldReefGuy]

Lol - well, I hope it made some sense. I honestly have no idea of these things help people or not.

It does help. It was a good read....helped me better understand the calculator that I had used.....

 

[kharmaguru]

Lol - well, I hope it made some sense. I honestly have no idea of these things help people or not.

We appreciate you Bean, not like those other so-and-sos.

 

[griss]

Who are we kidding
View attachment 32391953

You two didn't even click the link.
"Beam Deflection"

"Welp.. I have laundry to do... or something other than read that".

Nope, I just trust you.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I just got emotional...

Give me a moment.

 

[reefing102]

Lol - well, I hope it made some sense. I honestly have no idea of these things help people or not.

It made sense, and brought some common sense to things. Like I’m pretty certain I knew a 2x4 sideways was stronger than a 2x4 flat but when building a stand, can’t say I would have thought of that if building a stand

 

[wvned]

TLAR that looks about right
water bunkbeds

100 gallons each
180 stand

55 gallon stand

Math is for babies

Just kidding.

 

[jason2459]

Clicked it hoping to go to a Twitter stream. Closed right away.

 

[jason2459]

In truth very good write up. The end could stir up another long debate on sistering or joining two or more pieces of wood/plywood verse single thicker pieces.

 

[BeanAnimal]

In truth very good write up. The end could stir up another long debate on sistering or joining two or more pieces of wood/plywood verse single thicker pieces.

Thanks.

One or Two - virtually the same for our purposes, even if not joined together at all (assuming the load rests on both). You get the benefit of defects (knots, cracks, bark inclusions) not going the whole way through.

 

[kfisc]

I read it- very cool! Wish I had something that clear about 20 years ago. Especially helpful on your site as a whole were the finely integrated sections regarding bacon.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Calculator added... though I need to finish the OUTPUT formatting field... and add dynamic units displays next to input boxes... maybe one day

Beam Calculator – Second Moment and Deflection | BeanAnimal's Reef