reinforcing motorbox/firewall
#1
Thread Starter
reinforcing motorbox/firewall
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
#2
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
8-12 ounce unidirectional.
Try [link]http://www.fiberglasssupply.com[/link] in Bingen, Washington. I don't know their minimum quantities but the owner will work with people. It's worth taking a look. Bear in mind that carbon is not cheap.
Oh darn. Looks like he changed locations. Now I can't just walk next door for stuff when I'm at the office anymore[&o]
Try [link]http://www.fiberglasssupply.com[/link] in Bingen, Washington. I don't know their minimum quantities but the owner will work with people. It's worth taking a look. Bear in mind that carbon is not cheap.
Oh darn. Looks like he changed locations. Now I can't just walk next door for stuff when I'm at the office anymore[&o]
#4
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
For just a fraction of the cost you could use balsa tri stock and thin CA and you would get the same results.
Just food for thought.
Bob
Just food for thought.
Bob
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Arcen, , NETHERLANDS
Posts: 6,571
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
hmm... not quite in the same league. Balsa shear force is very low. The motor box has to transmit all torque vibrations through the fuselage to the wings that act as a balancer. With larger engines, balsa just won't cut it any more.
In 100% aircraft, Balsa is used for filler blocks, not for contruction main parts. There is a reason for that. Light ply too is suspect in larger planes. The glue interface to the fuselage is no stronger than the weakest link, which is the wood.
With carbon reinforcement, the carbon will take ALL loads, and should be dimensioned as such. This is due to the large difference in strain properties, know as young's modulus. Before the wood is anywhere near decent load bearing strains, the carbon is at it's strain limits. This should be considered with carbon reinforcing.
In 100% aircraft, Balsa is used for filler blocks, not for contruction main parts. There is a reason for that. Light ply too is suspect in larger planes. The glue interface to the fuselage is no stronger than the weakest link, which is the wood.
With carbon reinforcement, the carbon will take ALL loads, and should be dimensioned as such. This is due to the large difference in strain properties, know as young's modulus. Before the wood is anywhere near decent load bearing strains, the carbon is at it's strain limits. This should be considered with carbon reinforcing.
#6
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
One other item to keep in mind. The engine pulls, and does not push unless you have a tail mounted engine. Reinforcing the outside of the box does more than working the inside. If you wet the carbon well and lay it up using vacuum bagging or pressure from another source to have it tight to the wood the stuff is stonger than steel for a minimal weight penalty. It sets ultra thin per layer when laid up tight. More epoxy than needed to fully wet the carbon is only excess weight when it dries and provides no additional strength.
If you are needing to do lap joints, think "tree" and it's branches. That's probably the strongest joint made in nature and if you overlap wet carbon layers similar to the joint between a tree trunk and a branch you will end up with a formidable lap joint.
If you are needing to do lap joints, think "tree" and it's branches. That's probably the strongest joint made in nature and if you overlap wet carbon layers similar to the joint between a tree trunk and a branch you will end up with a formidable lap joint.
#7
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MT Pocono,
PA
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: MetallicaJunkie
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
What kind of "flying style demands" will you put that 260 through to need carbon fiber cloth on the firewall ? Hard landings ?
Albert
#10
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: pe reivers
hmm... not quite in the same league. Balsa shear force is very low. The motor box has to transmit all torque vibrations through the fuselage to the wings that act as a balancer. With larger engines, balsa just won't cut it any more.
In 100% aircraft, Balsa is used for filler blocks, not for contruction main parts. There is a reason for that. Light ply too is suspect in larger planes. The glue interface to the fuselage is no stronger than the weakest link, which is the wood.
With carbon reinforcement, the carbon will take ALL loads, and should be dimensioned as such. This is due to the large difference in strain properties, know as young's modulus. Before the wood is anywhere near decent load bearing strains, the carbon is at it's strain limits. This should be considered with carbon reinforcing.
hmm... not quite in the same league. Balsa shear force is very low. The motor box has to transmit all torque vibrations through the fuselage to the wings that act as a balancer. With larger engines, balsa just won't cut it any more.
In 100% aircraft, Balsa is used for filler blocks, not for contruction main parts. There is a reason for that. Light ply too is suspect in larger planes. The glue interface to the fuselage is no stronger than the weakest link, which is the wood.
With carbon reinforcement, the carbon will take ALL loads, and should be dimensioned as such. This is due to the large difference in strain properties, know as young's modulus. Before the wood is anywhere near decent load bearing strains, the carbon is at it's strain limits. This should be considered with carbon reinforcing.
Bob
#13
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
Pe's illustration implies that balsa will be stronger than carbon at the end of the paragraph. Sorry, but I have to dispute that. I fly 40 pound carbon airframes and no part of them would carry the load of another part if made from balsa of any type. The only component that could come close to carrying some of the wing loads would be of metal.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: **,
WA
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
Most light weight army uavs are made from carbon fibre not balsa. Check out Air and Space and see what they are using carbon for. Also balsa may not prevent twist like mentioned before. Some of these guys have a lot more exp than other wise given credit for. Go far the Carbon or at least fibre glass. this stuff really strengthens joints or people would not be telling to use it.
#15
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: schertz, TX
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: The glue interface to the fuselage is no stronger than the weakest link, which is the wood.
I guess since the vibrations are tranfered through the motor box to the wing tubes, then that all needs to be reinforced also, since it is all glued WOOD.
#16
Thread Starter
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: as722
What kind of "flying style demands" will you put that 260 through to need carbon fiber cloth on the firewall ? Hard landings ?
Albert
ORIGINAL: MetallicaJunkie
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
What kind of "flying style demands" will you put that 260 through to need carbon fiber cloth on the firewall ? Hard landings ?
Albert
no, just hard, wild, throwing the sticks type flying not necessarily 3d.... if i ever get concerned about hard landings, ill make a different thread
#17
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
I suppose I could say something about the length of the carbon weave extending back over a wood component. Longer moves the stress point accordingly, and long enough moves the stress point perhaps to another bulkhead which adds considerable "carry" to the other end. Or perhaps laminating back to a wood doubler which would pick up more torsional strength. You won't care if the wood breaks under the carbon because the carbon would continue to carry the load.
I have to agree that in most cases a simple piece of balsa tri stock effectively strengthens the firewall to fuselage joint, but what do you do if you think both the firewall and the sides it's attached to are too weak. Just adding a ply doubler inside the firewall will do nothing for the sides, right? Now there may be some grumbling about the weight of the carbon. No worries. That 8 ounce carbon is the weight for a square yard, and correctly planned an entire motor box covered in carbon should come in around 2.5 ounces or less after completion.
Don't limit your thinking to a single point.
I have to agree that in most cases a simple piece of balsa tri stock effectively strengthens the firewall to fuselage joint, but what do you do if you think both the firewall and the sides it's attached to are too weak. Just adding a ply doubler inside the firewall will do nothing for the sides, right? Now there may be some grumbling about the weight of the carbon. No worries. That 8 ounce carbon is the weight for a square yard, and correctly planned an entire motor box covered in carbon should come in around 2.5 ounces or less after completion.
Don't limit your thinking to a single point.
#18
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
Guys,
What I stated was; balsa tri stock properly bonded in the corners of the motor box of a built up airframe is cost effective and strong enough to carry any flight loads you could induce upon it, it's that simple.
Bob
What I stated was; balsa tri stock properly bonded in the corners of the motor box of a built up airframe is cost effective and strong enough to carry any flight loads you could induce upon it, it's that simple.
Bob
#20
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: 3DAP
Most light weight army uavs are made from carbon fibre not balsa. Check out Air and Space and see what they are using carbon for. Also balsa may not prevent twist like mentioned before. Some of these guys have a lot more exp than other wise given credit for. Go far the Carbon or at least fibre glass. this stuff really strengthens joints or people would not be telling to use it.
Most light weight army uavs are made from carbon fibre not balsa. Check out Air and Space and see what they are using carbon for. Also balsa may not prevent twist like mentioned before. Some of these guys have a lot more exp than other wise given credit for. Go far the Carbon or at least fibre glass. this stuff really strengthens joints or people would not be telling to use it.
Bob
#22
Junior Member
My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison,
AL
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: sensei
I think I will check out the Air & Space mag. so I can learn about composites...
Bob
ORIGINAL: 3DAP
Most light weight army uavs are made from carbon fibre not balsa. Check out Air and Space and see what they are using carbon for. Also balsa may not prevent twist like mentioned before. Some of these guys have a lot more exp than other wise given credit for. Go far the Carbon or at least fibre glass. this stuff really strengthens joints or people would not be telling to use it.
Most light weight army uavs are made from carbon fibre not balsa. Check out Air and Space and see what they are using carbon for. Also balsa may not prevent twist like mentioned before. Some of these guys have a lot more exp than other wise given credit for. Go far the Carbon or at least fibre glass. this stuff really strengthens joints or people would not be telling to use it.
Bob
#23
Thread Starter
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: T. Bob
We gotta stick jammer here.
just hard, wild, throwing the sticks type flying not necessarily 3d....
We gotta stick jammer here.
So what bobby?
#24
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MT Pocono,
PA
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
ORIGINAL: MetallicaJunkie
no, just hard, wild, throwing the sticks type flying not necessarily 3d.... if i ever get concerned about hard landings, ill make a different thread
ORIGINAL: as722
What kind of "flying style demands" will you put that 260 through to need carbon fiber cloth on the firewall ? Hard landings ?
Albert
ORIGINAL: MetallicaJunkie
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
My brother has a 33% SD models extra 260, and we feel the the motor box and firewall are going to need reinforcing to meet our flying style demands.
What ounce weight of carbon fiber cloth is needed, and what is a good website to buy small quantities at a reasonable price?
What kind of "flying style demands" will you put that 260 through to need carbon fiber cloth on the firewall ? Hard landings ?
Albert
no, just hard, wild, throwing the sticks type flying not necessarily 3d.... if i ever get concerned about hard landings, ill make a different thread
Now that I know we're dealing with wild throwing the sticks type flying but not necesarily 3d I would definetely wrap the entire engine box with carbon fiber cloth. Good luck with your plane.
Albert
#25
Senior Member
My Feedback: (9)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Munster,
IN
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: reinforcing motorbox/firewall
Now that I know we're dealing with wild throwing the sticks type flying but not necesarily 3d I would definetely wrap the entire engine box with carbon fiber cloth. Good luck with your plane.
I would'nt even take it out of the box.