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How to Draw a Gantry Crane
Draw a gantry crane in 11 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the top beam.
Step 1: The top beam
Near the top, draw one long thick beam across, 2 level lines a finger apart, with air at each end.
Tip A gantry crane is a giant doorway: a beam on 2 tall legs.
Step 2: Two tall legs
Just in from each beam end, draw a tall narrow leg down to near the bottom, with an X brace.
Step 3: Feet on rails
Under each leg, draw a flat foot slab with 2 tiny wheels. Draw 2 long rail lines under the wheels.
Step 4: Trolley and cables
Draw a small box under the beam's middle. From it, draw 2 cables spreading down to where the braces end.
Step 5: The spreader bar
On the ends of the cables, draw a long flat bar lying level: the spreader that grips the container.
Step 6: The container
Under the spreader, draw a big long box, much wider than tall. Add 3 rib lines on its left.
Tip The container hangs: leave air between it and the rails.
Step 7: The round face
Draw a circle on the right of the container, nearly as tall as it.
Step 8: Big eyes and smile
In the circle, draw 2 round eyes, each with a black dot and a shine. Add a smile under them.
Step 9: Grey and pink
Go over your lines, then colour the trolley and the spreader bar grey. Give the face 2 pink cheeks.
Step 10: Red container
Colour the container red, going around the round face. Leave the face and the eyes white.
Step 11: Blue crane
Colour the beam, both legs and the feet blue. Your gantry crane is lifting!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a gantry crane, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
