360 Degree Pendulum

Sizing a full-rotation pendulum for peak thrill capacity

Start with throughput, not with the picture. A full-rotation pendulum works as a park's peak thrill because it pulls a crowd to one point and clears it again in a predictable cycle. The 5TR-33 carries 23P per cycle, which sets how fast a Saturday queue moves and how long a guest waits between rides. Check that against your gate count on your busiest day, and against how far visitors will walk from the entrance to reach the thrill zone.

Checking height, power and cover area before peak thrill planning

Three numbers decide whether the ride fits your site. Height is 20.4m, so check overhead cables, floodlight masts and any height limit your insurer or local authority applies. Power is 78.5KW, which needs confirming against your supply and transformer capacity before you order. Cover area is 15 by 14.5 metres, and that footprint has to include the fence line and the queue, not just the structure. Mark the viewing area that will inevitably form at the fence.

Preparing the site pad and supply for a full-rotation pendulum

Groundworks are the part of the schedule that usually slips. Plan the concrete pad, drainage and the cable route from the transformer together, because a ride this size wants its supply confirmed early rather than improvised on installation week. The set ships in export packing, and installation is covered either by professional installation pictures and videos or by arranging our staff on site — worth deciding while quoting, since factory crew need travel booked in advance. Material is FRP with steel, so anchoring points are set out from the approved drawings.

Choosing FRP and steel finishes on a peak-thrill pendulum

The material is FRP with steel, and colour is customised, so the finish is a decision rather than a default. On a ride that anchors a thrill zone, pick colours that stay readable from the far side of the park and do not fight your evening lighting. FRP takes moulded shapes and holds paint well when panels face sun and rain all year. Plan touch-up with the colour scheme: matching paint and a scheduled repaint of exposed surfaces costs far less than a full re-finish two seasons in.

Spreading peak thrill demand across the operating day

Peak thrill is a scheduling problem as much as an engineering one. With 23P a cycle, run a fixed dispatch interval so the queue keeps moving and guests can judge their wait, then post it at the entrance. Offer a quieter window in the first hour after opening and again before close, which suits anyone who would rather not ride in a full car. If your park also runs ground-level attractions, a track such as the ice bumper car absorbs the overflow crowd while the pendulum cycle turns over.

Planning maintenance windows on a full-rotation pendulum

Build the maintenance routine into the calendar before opening day. Daily checks, a weekly inspection and an annual service are far easier to run when the documents arrive with the ride. CE certification is supplied, minimum order is one set, and published age guidance is over three years old. Keep spares of the fasteners and bushings you are likely to need first, so a small fault does not idle the ride. For smaller parks adding a second midway attraction, something like the portable bumper car can fill the slot while the pendulum is offline.

Technical Specifications