ORIGINAL: Meesh
Gaines,
As a former all around machinist with over 35 years in the trade I have to say that you did a beautiful job on the Bronco Landing gear! Real Craftsmanship!
Do you have any formal experience as a Machinist?
Bob
Bob,
Thanks for the compliment. I have no formal training as a machinist. I did all the work on a small Taig hobby lathe and vertical milling attachment after making the major cuts on the aluminum blocks using my 10" table saw with a carbide tip blade (I don't recommend this - very dangerous if you aren't carefull) and then finishing with a disc sander, Dremel tool with various sanding and grinding tools, and sand blasting to get the final finish. A lot of hand work, but I am ver pleased with the result and they work great.
What you don't see in the photos is an internal reinforcement on the main legs made from Chrome Moly tubing. The outer leg is just 2024 aluminum tubing and round stock machined to look like the full scale legs and then JB welded to the steel inner strut legs. Very strong and relatively light.
The proof will be if they hold up under normal use on the Bronco.
Gaines