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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Dennis Toth on September 10, 2014, 08:32:59 AM

Title: Bending CF rod for landing gear
Post by: Dennis Toth on September 10, 2014, 08:32:59 AM
Guys,
In an effort to keep weight down I have been looking into using 5/64" solid carbon fiber rod material for landing gear. The ship is a 25 size and will weigh in at around 34 oz. It will be tricycle gear and I am working hard to save weight were I can and the gear has a good shot. I have the CF rod and thought I could heat it and shape it but when I tried heating with a regular heat gun it laughed at it.

Has anyone tried this? How much heat and from what source?

Best,        DennisT
Title: Re: Bending CF rod for landing gear
Post by: Avaiojet on September 10, 2014, 09:53:10 AM
Guys,
In an effort to keep weight down I have been looking into using 5/64" solid carbon fiber rod material for landing gear. The ship is a 25 size and will weigh in at around 34 oz. It will be tricycle gear and I am working hard to save weight were I can and the gear has a good shot. I have the CF rod and thought I could heat it and shape it but when I tried heating with a regular heat gun it laughed at it.

Has anyone tried this? How much heat and from what source?

Best,        DennisT
Dennis,

You can save weight by eliminating that third wheel.  n~
Title: Re: Bending CF rod for landing gear
Post by: Lauri Malila on September 10, 2014, 10:33:16 AM
Sorry, that is not possible. The fibers will delaminate as you bend the rod. It will first fail on compression side.
You can only very slightly heat & twist the pultruded rods, like re-pitching props but even then you must be very carefull. L
Title: Re: Bending CF rod for landing gear
Post by: Randy Powell on September 10, 2014, 10:39:54 AM
Laurie is right. You can get it to move a bit (as when carbon props are re-pitched) but not the kind of bend you are talking about. It will just delaminate and fracture. I've made carbon gear, but you have to lay it up that way.