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Clay
super member
Reged: 05/09/07
Posts: 104
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It's amazing how many times you can change your mind about construction during construction! I must have done a dozen or two scope designs before I started, then changed almost everything *after* I started! I've finished the UTA and cut all the parts for the mirror box. Today I fitted the bearings. I haven't cut the holes for the struts yet.
I started out intending to do a Walton folding truss, using 3/4" diameter 6061 aluminum tubing. Then I changed my mind to using four 1.25" aluminum struts, sitting in 1 3/8" diameter aluminum tube seats in the mirror box. Now I'm thinking about weight creep and appearance (!) and am considering biting the bullet and using carbon fiber tubing. Would four 0.7" carbon fiber tubes equal or exceed the strength, stiffness, etc. of the four 1.25" aluminum struts? Can the "usual" McMaster Carr threaded inserts be used in carbon fiber? Can carbon fiber be cut with the usual workshop tools!
Thanks once again,
Clay
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Art Bianconi
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/06/06
Posts: 4659
Loc: Delaware River Valley, New Jer...
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Without knowing the wall thickness of the CF tubes or their method of construction it's difficult to give a precise answer.
Aerospace Composites is the company I've referred people to for the last 10 years. Their product line has expanded considerably and they now have an understanding of what ATM'ers need.
Mike Jones is building a real truss; a properly triangulated structure worthy of the name.
When most people around here say "truss" they mean a four pole "somethin' or other" but it ain't no truss.
I suggest you:
a: send of a PM to Mike and ask what he used
b: do a Google search for Aerospace Composites.
I am looking at two samples of their wrapped CF tubing here in my office.
0.500" ID x 0.032" wall. The other 0.625" ID x 032" wall
One says Livermore, California (925) 443-5900
The other says San Leandro, California (510)352-2022
I suspect that they may have moved so one address is likely the old one. Still you have as much info as I gave Mike and he found them. You should have no trouble finding them either.
Good luck
Art
--------------------
“Everything is on its way to somewhere. . . . . everything!"
____________________ George Malley (John Travolta)
________________________ "Phenomenon"
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Clay
super member
Reged: 05/09/07
Posts: 104
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Thanks, Art. I will use that reference material...and I *do* know the difference between trusses and struts (I've read almost *all* of your previous posts!).
Clay
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