Want to make my own landing gear?
#1
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Want to make my own landing gear?
I'd like to make up my own landing gear.
What grade aluminum is used in the commercial gear? any ideas?
What grade aluminum is used in the commercial gear? any ideas?
#2
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RE: Want to make my own landing gear?
You can't go wrong with 6061-T6. 3003 is utility grade and i don't think it would be strong enough, 2024 is strong but very high priced, 7075 is aircraft grade but also very expensive.
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RE: Want to make my own landing gear?
For information on how to bend the aluminum go to http://www.eskimo.com/~smallnet/ and click on Joe Wagner's articles.
#6
My Feedback: (2)
RE: Want to make my own landing gear?
The process of making spring aluminum landing gear must be a highly guarded trade secret.
I have searched the internet over and over for instructions on how to put the correct temper into aluminum to make it springy.
I even sent a email to Grove Aircraft which makes landing gear from aluminum but nothing.
Anyway, years ago I built a Big Hots. 81 inch wing. And there was no gear for it, so since I work in a machine/fab shop I have access to tons of aluminum.
I heard about a guy in S.C. who could take my aluminum and somehow put the required spring into it. Sure enough, he did.
And I used 6061 T6 to start with.
No aluminum I know of other than the stuff Sig sales has the spring affect. Problem with theirs is its flat and your gonna have to anneal it so it will bend, then it magically rehardens on it on.
While this will work, why cant I find how to do this from the materials I have access to?
Dennis
I have searched the internet over and over for instructions on how to put the correct temper into aluminum to make it springy.
I even sent a email to Grove Aircraft which makes landing gear from aluminum but nothing.
Anyway, years ago I built a Big Hots. 81 inch wing. And there was no gear for it, so since I work in a machine/fab shop I have access to tons of aluminum.
I heard about a guy in S.C. who could take my aluminum and somehow put the required spring into it. Sure enough, he did.
And I used 6061 T6 to start with.
No aluminum I know of other than the stuff Sig sales has the spring affect. Problem with theirs is its flat and your gonna have to anneal it so it will bend, then it magically rehardens on it on.
While this will work, why cant I find how to do this from the materials I have access to?
Dennis
#8
My Feedback: (2)
RE: Want to make my own landing gear?
Darock I wished I knew, but that was a good 12 years ago. He may be dead now.[&o]
But the more I did around the more I think the process involves Cryogenics. Probably explains why I cant find any dyi info.
There has got to be someone out there that has access to doing small jobs though.
But the more I did around the more I think the process involves Cryogenics. Probably explains why I cant find any dyi info.
There has got to be someone out there that has access to doing small jobs though.
#9
RE: Want to make my own landing gear?
I recall seeing a program about a guy who was using cryogenics to change the characteristics of materials. They talked about hardening metals, and making nylons 10 times more resistant to runs, and some other stuff I can't recall. It had to do with a reordering of molecules at low temperatures and bringing them back to room temp in a controlled manner. I wish I could remember more details.
Scott
Scott