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Speed,Combat,Scale,Racing => Speed Talk => Topic started by: Paul Smith on July 27, 2017, 05:28:10 PM

Title: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 27, 2017, 05:28:10 PM
I am working on a project that requires aluminum beam engine mounts.

I see that McMaster Carr offers 6061 T6 in the size I need.  Is this an OK alloy for engine mounts?  It seems to be all they offer.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Bob Heywood on July 27, 2017, 07:28:41 PM
6061 T6 has been around since the mid- 1930's and is considered a versatile, general purpose alloy. It is easily worked. While not quite as strong as the 7075 alloy, you should have no problems.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 27, 2017, 07:34:48 PM
There's a bunch of mail-order metal places that sell a wider variety of stuff for less money than McMaster.

6061-T6 should be fine, but I think that 2024 or the 7000-series stuff may be preferred by people who, like, actually know this stuff.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 28, 2017, 06:39:42 AM
Thanks.  What is the better source?  I hope to find a cross section that works & just do the drilling.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: bill bischoff on July 28, 2017, 08:12:37 AM
Try onlinemetals.com.  1/4" x 1/2", 2024-T4 alloy. You can buy one foot for about $5.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 28, 2017, 08:35:09 AM
Thanks.  Online looks like pretty-much what I want.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: pmackenzie on July 28, 2017, 10:29:04 AM
Forget about 6061-T6 it's soft and gummy to work with. Get some 2024-T3, T4 or T6.  If you need the best 7075-T651 is very hard and tough, machines like brass, good for making conrods, bellcranks and other critical components.

What do you need exactly, I probably have it.

MM
6061 works great for motor mounts. I have made many,many sets from it for speed limit and no-one who has used them has ever had a problem.

I have used 7075 for my own F2D mounts, but have not noticed any difference in use between them and those made from 6061.

Pat MacKenzie
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 28, 2017, 12:56:03 PM
Thanks for the advice.

1/4" plate is only 6.35mm.  With a 3mm hole drilled it that only leaves 1.6mm on each side of the hole.  Is that enough? 
I'm away from my shop today.  How thick are the mounts we use for FORA F2d's?

Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: C.T. Schaefer on July 28, 2017, 05:17:01 PM
I bolted my TZ to 1/8 aluminum plates. Snapped like a twig
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 29, 2017, 08:00:17 AM
TZ?
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Ken Burdick on July 29, 2017, 10:32:26 AM
thicker than that.......
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 29, 2017, 01:10:57 PM
Thanks for the advice.

1/4" plate is only 6.35mm.  With a 3mm hole drilled it that only leaves 1.6mm on each side of the hole.  Is that enough? 
I'm away from my shop today.  How thick are the mounts we use for FORA F2d's?

Too many other variables, not least of which is the alloy.  Any time you give a definitive "yes" or "no" to a vague question you're pretty much guaranteeing that you'll be wrong for some circumstance.

Post a sketch of what you want to do?  With enough depth to the beam a hole like that might work, but it might not, and your motor mounts may die an early death of fatigue around the rear mount holes -- or not.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: Paul Smith on July 31, 2017, 04:54:18 PM
I  measured some engine mounts that worked OK and concluded that 1/4" is thick enough for a 15.

Thanks for the input.
Title: Re: Alloy aluninum for
Post by: C.T. Schaefer on August 01, 2017, 06:26:11 AM
OS  TZ .18 on a clown