Steel-Building Vocabulary

Point:
A configuration of Steel Cable and Screw-Pin Anchor Shackles, from which a Chain Motor hangs.  Denoted on the floor in chalk markings denoting what kind of Chain Motor will hang there, and what Steel Cable components will be used to make it. 

Dead Hang:  A Point directly under a beam.    An example:

Bridle:  A point between two beams.  An example:

 

Steel Cable:
Braided wire rope with an Eye at either end (often generalized as "steel")
Red - 5'
White - 10'
Blue - 20'
Yellow or Green - 30' 

Try to figure out what this composition of steel components comprises...

Steel cable comes in 2 sizes:

Two-Ton Steel Cable:  1/2" Steel, extra thick and burly.  Usually for sound Points (speakers are extremely heavy) and occasionally other really heavy stuff.

3/8" Steel Cable:  Used for 1/2-Ton and "Peanut" (smaller) Motors

3/4" Shackles:  Extra large; used with 1/2" Steel Cable (for Two-Ton Motors)
5/8" Shackles:  Regular; used with 3/8" Steel Cable (One Ton and Peanut Motors)

5/8" Shackles

Deck Chain:

 Affectionately termed "Links".  The tag always goes at the top of the links in the configuration.  The "Free Links" also always go at the top.

Can you identify the tag, the free links?  Which direction is the top? 

Eye:
Steel Cable coming back to itself in a loop configuration at each end, reinforced with a Thimble and secured with a Swedge

Thimble:
A strip of metal which reinforces the Eye of a Steel Cable

Swedge:
A metal crimp holding a Steel Cable in an Eye configuration

Screw-Pin Anchor Shackle:
A metal Steel Cable connector consisting of a Bell and a Pin (often generalized as "Shackle")

Bell:
The component of a Shackle which curves around into a U shape and has a threaded hole at one end and a smooth hole at the other to accommodate its Pin.

Shoulders:  

The component of a Shackle through which the pin slides on one side, and which has threads on the other side into which the pin screws.

Pin:
The component of a Shackle consisting of a threaded end and a handle end from which to screw/unscrew

 Apex Shackle:
A weighted Shackle which is oriented with the pin side down, suspending Steel from the Bell and which has Steel hanging from the Pin, such as an Apex Shackle or a Shackle connecting two pieces of steel (ie: a Leg).

Free Shackle:  Used to Make a Basket, the pin is directed upward and holds the weight of the Basket 

In the above picture, the blue shackle with the orange pin is the free shackle.  the black one is the Apex shackle. 

Chain Motor:
A motorized hoist device used by the entertainment industry for such applications as lifting and securing overhead truss systems, lighting arrays and speaker clusters.

Chain Motors come in sizes:  

Two-Ton Motor:  Extra burly (larger and heavier).  Old style has two chains.  New style only has one.  Either way, it is able to support more weight.  Often denoted on the floor with a square marking:

 
One-Ton Motor:  Regular size.  Has one chain.  Often denoted on the floor with a circle:

 
Half-Ton Motor:  Smaller.  Lighter.  One chain.  Often denoted on the floor with a triangle
Quarter ton: "Peanut Motor".  Often denoted with a diamond

 
Basket:
A component of a Point, consisting of a Steel Cable which wraps around a beam.  Screw-Pin Anchor Shackles connect a Basket to a Stinger.  An Open Basket is wrapped around a Beam and Made by the Uprigger.  A Closed Basket is already Made when it Flies Out and typically captures a pipe on a theater grid.

5' (Open) Basket:
A Basket comprised of one 5' Steel Cable (somewhat common)

10' (Open) Basket:
A Basket comprised of one 10' Steel Cable.  In this configuration, the Free Shackle goes on the Bell of the Apex Shackle along with the eye of the Steel Cable.

15'-Split Basket:
A basket comprised of one 5' Steel Cable and one 10' Steel Cable.  In this configuration, the Free Shackle goes into the Eye of the 5' Steel Cable and the Eyes of the 5' and 10' pieces of Steel go on the Bell of the Apex Shackle.

What do the colors red, white, and blue denote?  Can you identify the Apex shackle from the Free Shackle?  Why? 

  

Fun fact:  There are never more than two metal bits on the bell of the Apex shackle.  Check it out!

 

Beam:

A horizontal structural member of a building near the roof

Stinger:

A component of a Point, consisting of a Steel cable hanging below the Basket of a Dead Hang, and below the Apex Shackle of a Bridle

Apex:
Shackle junction on a Bridle connecting the two Legs
Shackle junction on a Dead Hang connecting the Basket and the Stinger

Downrigger:
Before the show, works as a team with Upriggers to build steel on the Deck, connect uprigging ropes to Points as they are requested, and direct the Uprigger how the point needs to move to be in the correct position

Uprigger:  Before the show, works as a team with Downriggers to build steel on the Deck, sends ropes In to hang Points and position them as requested

Road Guy:  Person traveling with the show.  Each department has a leader.  This person will direct the Local Crew.  Make your lead Road Guy happy.  Do what s/he asks if possible.

Local Crew:  Us

Stage Directions:
In - Originating from the Beams near the ceiling and going toward the Deck
Out - Originating at the Deck and going toward the Beams
Stage Left - To your left as you stand on the stage and look toward the audience
Stage Right - To your right as you stand on the stage and look toward the audience
Up (stage) - Behind you as you stand on the stage and look toward the audience
Down (stage) - In front of you as you stand on the stage and look toward the audience

Deck:
The floor of the building

Make (a Point):
Wrapping a Steel Cable around a Beam and using a Free Shackle to connect it back to itself, forming a Basket

Break (a Point):
Disconnecting a Free Shackle from itself to unmake a Basket

Priority Point:
A Bridle or Dead Hang which the Road Guy wants first

Cross Load:
When the pin of a shackle has an opposing direction of pull on each side of the bell.  Also can be viewed as a "side-loaded" shackle.  Do not do this. The proper orientation of weight should be one line of pull on the center of the bell, and the other line of pull on the pin.