RCCrawler Forums

kerrywittig · 11-13-2006, 05:51 PM

Mid-December I will be starting to fabricate a "tuber" chassis. It will be a 1/5th scale, 20"WB, shafty................ of my 1:1 rig pictured below.

After spending a couple hours reading a variety of threads in this forum section I am now second guessing myself as to wether or not I should build the chassis out of 5/16" to 3/8" solid aluminum rod, with 1/8" bracing and gussets, all tig welded. The reason for the aluminum rod choice is it will be light weight.....

My questions are:

Will it be strong and ridgid enough? Especially after a long hard roll?

I realize it will possibly get bent and gouged by the rocks.........Should I reconsider using aluminum?

Any feedback pro or con will be appreciated. Kerry

chino63 · 11-13-2006, 08:41 PM

most of us use brake line. the aluminum rod will work but depending on the type, it can be hard to bend. also, i have heard of 6061 cracking from a hard hit. still can be done though. good luck!

EGRESSor · 11-14-2006, 05:15 AM

aluminium tube is strong enough
i´ve build some
my new aluminium tuber
1:4 gear ratio Jugg axle

and Kerry , if you need some axles and motor/esc for a 1/5th scale

roktoy · 11-14-2006, 06:29 AM

5/16" would be 1.5" at scale.

I'm thinking the hardened aluminum rod would be about the same strength and resistance to bending as either DOM or SS tubing. 5/16" 6061 is about 1.4oz per foot and .035" steel tubing is about 1.7oz per foot. Figuring 20 feet of tube, the aluminum would be 28oz. and steel tubing would be 34oz. ......or about 6oz more.

The brazed joints look more scale compared to the bulkier TIG welded aluminum joints. I don't know quite how brittle the aluminum joints might be as far as survivability from hard rock impacts of the chassis.

Another consideration might be adding things like panel nuts or sheet tabs....will probably be more difficult to do in aluminum I would think. I've never worked with welding aluminum so don't know the details too well.

The steel will slide across rocks better and scar less than the aluminum.

The steel tubing will require more fit and finish as far as fishmouthing.

Some thoughts.....
Jay

kerrywittig · 11-14-2006, 04:29 PM

Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions. The TIG'ing of the rod and mounting hardware will be of no concern (got a buddy who is amazing),and as far as the aluminum not being slippery.......I plan on using some very thin Delrin material over the aluminum skids.

Only a 6 oz. diff in weight isn't much but with all the detail I hope to incorporate in the chassis, as well as the "added" weight of the Hyperion outrunner, as well as the weight of the "large" servos..........every oz. counts. Kerry

11-13-2006, 05:51 PM	#1
kerrywittig Quarry Creeper Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 208	Aluminum, Steel, or Stainless, that is the question!! Mid-December I will be starting to fabricate a "tuber" chassis. It will be a 1/5th scale, 20"WB, shafty................ of my 1:1 rig pictured below. After spending a couple hours reading a variety of threads in this forum section I am now second guessing myself as to wether or not I should build the chassis out of 5/16" to 3/8" solid aluminum rod, with 1/8" bracing and gussets, all tig welded. The reason for the aluminum rod choice is it will be light weight..... My questions are: Will it be strong and ridgid enough? Especially after a long hard roll? I realize it will possibly get bent and gouged by the rocks.........Should I reconsider using aluminum? Any feedback pro or con will be appreciated. Kerry Attached Images Last edited by kerrywittig; 11-13-2006 at 05:57 PM.

11-14-2006, 06:29 AM	#4
roktoy Dirt Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stumblin' thru the parking lot of an invisible 7-Eleven Posts: 1,053	5/16" would be 1.5" at scale. I'm thinking the hardened aluminum rod would be about the same strength and resistance to bending as either DOM or SS tubing. 5/16" 6061 is about 1.4oz per foot and .035" steel tubing is about 1.7oz per foot. Figuring 20 feet of tube, the aluminum would be 28oz. and steel tubing would be 34oz. ......or about 6oz more. The brazed joints look more scale compared to the bulkier TIG welded aluminum joints. I don't know quite how brittle the aluminum joints might be as far as survivability from hard rock impacts of the chassis. Another consideration might be adding things like panel nuts or sheet tabs....will probably be more difficult to do in aluminum I would think. I've never worked with welding aluminum so don't know the details too well. The steel will slide across rocks better and scar less than the aluminum. The steel tubing will require more fit and finish as far as fishmouthing. Some thoughts..... Jay Last edited by roktoy; 11-14-2006 at 07:40 AM.

11-13-2006, 08:41 PM	#2
chino63 Oppan Gangnam Style Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shingle Springs Posts: 5,164	most of us use brake line. the aluminum rod will work but depending on the type, it can be hard to bend. also, i have heard of 6061 cracking from a hard hit. still can be done though. good luck!

11-14-2006, 05:15 AM	#3
EGRESSor RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany north Posts: 1,669	aluminium tube is strong enough i´ve build some my new aluminium tuber 1:4 gear ratio Jugg axle and Kerry , if you need some axles and motor/esc for a 1/5th scale

11-14-2006, 04:29 PM	#5
kerrywittig Quarry Creeper Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 208	Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions. The TIG'ing of the rod and mounting hardware will be of no concern (got a buddy who is amazing),and as far as the aluminum not being slippery.......I plan on using some very thin Delrin material over the aluminum skids. Only a 6 oz. diff in weight isn't much but with all the detail I hope to incorporate in the chassis, as well as the "added" weight of the Hyperion outrunner, as well as the weight of the "large" servos..........every oz. counts. Kerry

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