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Unread 20-12-2005, 14:52
TriggsJr TriggsJr is offline
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Re: Input On Steel chassis w/wood inset

4130 steel is a great structural material. Alot of smaller planes have this chromoly frames. OOOh ya and planes have to be light right??

Welding aluminum frames is not very good. When you weld Aluminum the T6 hardness goes to T0 in the welded areas losing most of its strengh.

The bolt together extrusion is a very good way to go. easy to cut and bolt together Very Very strong.

The way my team(Rage 173) is has been going for the last 6 years is using 1/2 cabinet grade plywood. Really nice to work with. When its painted up it doesn't look like some structural monster.

I've been doing this for almost 11 years I've tried all these paths.
And the best 2 are the bolt together 80-20 extrusion and the plywood bases.
I would stay away from the welding its not necessary.
theres lots of manufactures of the extruded aluminum 80-20, bocsh profile, its pretty good. Its just grown up legos.

A first time team should either use the kit frame of go for the extrusion frame which is more stiff.

The plywood is nice but you have to know what your doing.

I have seen alot of welded frames in the competition do well but they really have to be over built to survive the punishment. They'll probably be someone that goes against my statement but the fact is the weld goes to Tzero!!! and the weld turns out to be the weakest spot. They might say they reage the welds by solution heat treat. but most likely not because the heat treat will warp and twist the frame.

The carbin fiber idea is all cool and fancy sounding but its really to brittle.

So if your a beginer go with the profile (extrusion) or if you have a really good carpenter take the leap and go with the 1/2 cabinet grade plywood.
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