mastathug0

Hi I'm planning on building a custom rollcage for my T-Maxx (OS .15)with a Grave Digger body. What materials would you guys suggest I use to build this. I need the material to be light but still strong.

zach brenner

titanium, hardened liquid alloy(hla)
those are what the space shuttle is made out of. titanium and hardened liquid alloy.
these are the strongest metals available. a 1' by 1' sheet of titanium cost like $262 http://www.mcmaster.com/ and rods are 14 for 1/8
hla is probabaly going to be about 800 for a 1'by 1' sheet and 40 per rod.
then no common grinder will cut metat this hard so new tools.....
so about a grand to drop you maxx out of a plane and have it survive
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but if your on a buget get aluminum

Bria1

I made this roll cage out of brass tubing and used silver solder to put it together. It is light and pretty strong. I can stand on it, but I'm not sure how it would hold up to landing upside down at an awkward angle from a 10 foot jump. I purposely made it land upside down without a body on it from about 2 foot in the air and nothing bent or broke. You could double wall the tubing to make it stronger, basically put a smaller piece inside the outside piece. It's pretty cheap to make.
Hopefully that is more help than the previous post.

zach brenner

my first post was a joke but aluminum 1/8 inch tubing it very light and strong and cheap. you should build a cage, then brace it with 1/8 steel tubing. titanium is still a good buy, but go with 1/16 inch tubing about 12.00 for 1'

89ram

how would you go about attaching the steel to the aluminum? do you have any pics? all-steel would be easiest for me, because i have a mig welder, but i have a friend in the auto restoration business with a tig welder for aluminum.

zach brenner

i have no idea! try welding or soldering

89ram

thought maybe you had some cool tips/tricks to share.

gkcontra

When I was considering building a crawler, it was suggested to use auto brake lines. they are hollow and can be easily bent to the positions you need, then braced.

discgolfer72

the thing about brake lines is they rust out verry quickly and are verry hard to work with thwy will kink really easy and i dont see haw u could brace them enough tho stope bending on an impact they are also much heavier than alum aor brass tubing

89ram

i can see how brake lines would be easy to work with. they would be stronger than brass too, i think. how would the brake lines rust out very quickly? i've replaced lines that were on a car 15 years. do you drive your rc in salt water? proper bracing of a cage would be in a triangular fashion, just like in race cars.

-SomeGuy-

What about delrin rods? Light, impact resistant and not crazy expensive.

This guy makes his own and according to him its the most resistant material for roll cages. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4877797/tm.htm

tommythecat

My Feedback: (2)

That guys delrin cage has got to be the strongest looking and lightest cage I have seen to date.

I made mine from aluminum tube, but it is soft and tends to bend easily. 1 good hard upside down landing and it needs to be straightened back out (easy enough to do by hand) but after a few times straightening it out, it will break and I have to go cut, bend, and install a new peice to replace whichever one snapped. Works to protect the engine during serious crashes, but is not the most durable solution out there.

I need to look into the delrin option, it seems ideal. I wonder how he bends and joins it so cleanly...

89ram

i pm'd him, still waiting on a reply. i think that cage looks pretty stout too.

mastathug0

I'm building the cage in my welding class and I started it today. I am using 3/16 steel rods and its going pretty good so far. thanks for ur help guys

-SomeGuy-

I think he sells them for 125 but he only makes them for savage FLM extended LCG TVPs. As for bending its done with a heat gun and joining them with screws. The brackets are a piece of pipe welded onto a metal plate. It doesnt look that hard but i fugure it will be a question of trial and error.

89ram

hmmm, sounds like something right down my alley, building parts and such. mustathug, good luck on your cage. don't overdo it and get too heavy, let us know how it goes! pics too!

-SomeGuy-

If anyone figures out an easy way of making the delrin cage please make a "how to" and post it in the hpi section. I would do it but i dont have the best work place (in my living room) and dont have all the tools needed. Thanks!

neishkin sporgun

you can getm pretty cheap, you might be able to modify one thats already exists, all the size done and basic structure. just kinda use whats there. it might work depending on what you r going for. I had to mod mine a little bit to fit some changes i made. there not to hard to mess with, some basic metal working skill , ya.

INTEGRA

duckedup

umm... I'm pretty sure he was complimenting you [sm=50_50.gif]

INTEGRA

Trial and Error is How that was Done...Just like someguywitasavage said......Any Alluminum or Steel Rod cage Will bend and Mangle the mounts.

INTEGRA

ya i kno i was just Skimming over the posts and read it wrong....my bad...i edited it out tho...so No worries..as long as u didnt "quote" it...its All good.