News:



  • May 09, 2024, 12:58:54 PM

Login with username, password and session length

« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig  (Read 3198 times)

Offline Bill Johnson

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 535
Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« on: May 11, 2015, 07:43:59 PM »
Does anyone have a source for pre-cut aluminum angles, maybe 1.5" X 3.5 or 4", to use on a fuselage jig?

I can cut, drill and slot a board but don't have the right tools available right now to cut up some "L" extrusion.
Logged
Best Regards,
Bill

AMA 350715

Offline Tim Wescott

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 12815
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2015, 11:41:27 PM »
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-1-aluminum-rafter-angle-square-61877-11015.html

Catch the flange on either side with wood screws.  Or do some cuttin' and filin'.
Logged
AMA 64232

The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Bill Johnson

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 535
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2015, 12:15:34 PM »
Good idea, Tim!
Logged
Best Regards,
Bill

AMA 350715

Offline Tim Wescott

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 12815
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2015, 02:10:49 PM »
Don't give me the credit!  I got the idea from Tom Brightbill.
Logged
AMA 64232

The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Allan Perret

  • 2017
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1892
  • Proverbs
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2015, 02:58:44 PM »
I made a set from an 80/20 aluminum angle (eBay) by cutting at 1" increments and then having buddy with mill machine the slots.  Got 14 brackets from the 18" length.  Let me tell you they are ROBUST !    If you buy direct from 80/20 they will cut you however many 1.5" brackets you want, but there will be an additional charge for each cut.  I did not price it that way because I had access to power hacksaw.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190911927437?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
« Last Edit: May 12, 2015, 03:15:57 PM by Allan Perret »
Logged
Allan Perret
AMA 302406
Slidell, Louisiana

Offline Bill Johnson

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 535
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2015, 04:52:18 PM »
Those are perfect, Allan.

This whole thing is frustrating because up until 2006, I did that kind of work as a structural mechanic. Up until abut 18 months ago, I could have had a buddy do it. Even now, I have the tooling but living in a rental house all my tools are in storage. No room in the rental house except a building table.

I can still hacksaw up a bunch of pieces and hand file them, then chain-drill some holes to get the slot but it's waaaaaaaay to much trouble.

I see Tom Morris has a set of wood ones for less than $20. I'll probably just go that route.
Logged
Best Regards,
Bill

AMA 350715

Offline Allan Perret

  • 2017
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1892
  • Proverbs
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2015, 05:10:22 PM »
Quote from: Bill Johnson on May 12, 2015, 04:52:18 PM
Those are perfect, Allan.

This whole thing is frustrating because up until 2006, I did that kind of work as a structural mechanic. Up until abut 18 months ago, I could have had a buddy do it. Even now, I have the tooling but living in a rental house all my tools are in storage. No room in the rental house except a building table.

I can still hacksaw up a bunch of pieces and hand file them, then chain-drill some holes to get the slot but it's waaaaaaaay to much trouble.

I see Tom Morris has a set of wood ones for less than $20. I'll probably just go that route.
There should be a local metals supplier that has aluminum angle.  Lots of time they have shorter cutoffs from custom orders.  Find one that has 2" x 4" angle 1/4 or 3/16 thickness.  They have power chop saws than can cut a dozen or so 1" pieces in a couple of minutes.   Probably a lot cheaper than the 80/20 stuff, which is really overkill. 
Logged
Allan Perret
AMA 302406
Slidell, Louisiana

Offline Bill Johnson

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 535
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2015, 09:39:57 AM »
Found several suppliers locally! Makes sense as there's a lot of aerospace industry activity in this area because of Redstone Arsenal. Sent an email to one so we'll see.

Thanks for the suggestions, Allan.
Logged
Best Regards,
Bill

AMA 350715

Offline Randy Powell

  • 21 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 10478
  • TreeTop Flyer
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2015, 02:11:36 PM »
Yea, I picked up some scrap aluminum angle stock a few years ago and cut them up with a hack saw then used my bench top mill to face them and cut slots for a jig. Got some 3/8" square aluminum to use for chocks. I've modified it over the years to do all kinds of stuff. About every third plane I check them for squareness and do any additional corrective machining needed. They work. And while tedious, not very hard to make.

Like this:
Logged
Member in good standing of P.I.S.T
(Politically Incorrect Stunt Team)
AMA 67711
 Randy Powell

Offline James Mills

  • AMA Member and supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1295
  • Welcome to the Stunt Hanger.
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2015, 10:33:39 PM »
Give Jim Lee a call.  He should be listed in the vendor section.

James
Logged
AMA 491167

Offline Bill Johnson

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 535
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2015, 07:40:56 AM »
Thanks, James.
I just looked at his vendor section and website. He has a lot of little gems there!
Logged
Best Regards,
Bill

AMA 350715

Offline James Mills

  • AMA Member and supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1295
  • Welcome to the Stunt Hanger.
Re: Aluminum angles for fuselage jig
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2015, 11:12:16 PM »
Quote from: Bill Johnson on May 15, 2015, 07:40:56 AM
Thanks, James.
I just looked at his vendor section and website. He has a lot of little gems there!
It can be tempting #^.  Jim's stuff is top shelf.

James
Logged
AMA 491167

Advertise Here
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 


Advertise Here