Gantry

A gantry is a framework or structure that spans an opening or supports equipment that moves along rails. The term is widely used for crane systems as well as for equipment in imaging and manufacturing. In crane operations, a gantry typically carries a hoist on a bridge supported by legs that travel on rails, allowing heavy loads to be moved over wide areas such as shipyards, warehouses, and construction sites.

Gantry cranes consist of a bridge, legs, a hoist, and wheels or trolleys that enable travel along rails. The hoist moves along the bridge on a trolley, and the entire assembly is supported by foundations or rails. Configurations include full gantry, where the legs form a complete supporting frame over the workspace, and semi-gantry, where the bridge connects to a wall or column. They vary in span, height, and load capacity and can be rail-mounted, rubber-tired, or semi-portable.

Beyond crane use, the term gantry appears in medical imaging and treatment. A CT gantry is the circular frame that houses the X-ray tube and detectors and rotates around the patient during scanning. In radiotherapy and particle therapy, a treatment gantry is the rotating structure that directs therapeutic beams from multiple angles. In manufacturing and automation, a gantry can also refer to the overhead frame of CNC machines and large-format 3D printers, where the gantry carries the tooling across the work area.

Overall, a gantry denotes a movable, supported framework designed to carry equipment over a space, enabling controlled motion and access across a defined region.