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Unread 22-04-2012, 10:56
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AKA: Steven Greco
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Re: WCD-Style Belly Pan Weight

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Adams View Post
We did 1/8" 5052 on a prototype with a ton of pocketing, and it came to 4.5lbs or 5lbs. One of our main reasons for the bellypan is keeping the frame stiffer in torsion. Have you found any advantages to 1/16", especially if the weight is about the same as pocketed 1/8"?
We use 1/16 primarily because that's what our metal shop has standard in stock. So it's cheaper (actually free) for us to use 1/16, and the turnaround time is faster. We also typically put a few flanges on the sides to make the pan sit nicely in the frame with lateral support.

But you're right, 1/8 acts to stiffen the frame much more than 1/16 does, for us it's just a matter of what resources are most readily available.