How to Calculate Scissor Lift Length
The length of a scissor jack lift is proportional to the scissor support weight as well as the integrity of the steel cross sections over the length. The scissor structures weight and length are corollaries, meaning that the former determines the latter for a stable scissor jack. An extreme example of this to illustrate the point will be a 20-foot lift length that is featherweight made from Styrofoam which is practically weightless. It definitely would not be able to support at much of a height and can not support much at all.
To be able to calculate the length of a scissor lift, determine how high in the air you have to support a platform that will support of the weight of the objects and occupants on the platform along with the platform's weight.
The number of cross-sections of scissor folding supports sections which will be required to be extended at their full extension to be able to reach the needed height within the weight support parameters. Lastly, you would never want to ascend a few workers up on a platform with their materials which is on a platform supported by any type of unstable structure because obviously any type of machinery which is prone to tipping would put people in an extremely dangerous situation.
Each cross section should be weighed to determined the overall weight and length of the scissor lift in addition to the overall stability of the machine. When entirely extended, determine the angle between the ground or horizontal level against the scissor arms measured.