airframe question

[Godzilllla]

hello i recently crashed my 600 gt and damaged my air frame its carbon fiber, i was thinking of replacing it with sheet aluminum what are the down falls of doing that? i can purchase .090 sheet of t6 aluminum for $15 which is enough to make both sides, it should be much stronger and won't crack.
this heli is strong enough to lift the extra weight so i don't see a problem. any thoughts anyone..

[pril250]

If the damage is repairable on the existing frame then you can use a glass fiber repair kit to rebuild it.

Aluminum is ok if you have the facilities and the knowledge to replicate the sides with sufficient accuracy. The downside I guess in the event of a crash it will bend or twist rather than break and can easily be straightened back into shape. Its relative strength may cause other components to dissipate the forces of the collision once you hit the dirt.

I think it has been done before by some members and worked well for them.

[ticedoff8]

You are so wrong.

Without a CAD system and CNC machine, there is no way anyone could do this and get all the holes to line up and have a airframe that wasn't so out of whack it would fly.

Aluminium is no where as "strong" or stiff as CF.
The only advantage is that sheet aluminium bends but doesn't break. But, once it is bent, it is garbage.

They stopped using sheet aluminium in RC helis in the mid-90.
Since then, it has been CF and plastic

Bite the bullet and buy new frames.
Depending on where the damage happened, look at using nylon screws instead of the standard steel.
The next crash, the nylon screws will break and save the frames.

[Gladius]

Please don't make such blanket statements. Helihaven is making aluminum framed helis without a CNC machine, and is able to get his holes to line up just fine. He does have a lathe, and is rather OCD about such things, but his helis fly just fine.

Also, please don't say things like, "You are so wrong." You're expressing your opinion, just like pril250. It's not in keeping with the HF motto. (And I've made my fair share of mistakes in that regard as well.)

[pril250]

Thanks Gladius

[ticedoff8]

You two sound like a good match.

Enjoy.

[pril250]

What happens to people who know what they are talking about

[Gladius]

Originally Posted by ticedoff8

You two sound like a good match.

Enjoy.

Aww, I love you too!

[RC/DC_5000]

Thats rich Gladius... considering a few days ago, you told me that saying a battery fills a wire with electrons is "patently ridiculous" along with a string of other personal insults.

Perhaps you might worry more about yourself first.

The guy can say he thinks he's wrong if he thinks he's wrong. Flag his post if you think it needs moderation. But don't go around policing threads. Ethics and morality are not your forte.

[CrashNburn420]

Give a try godzilla, worst case you're out $30 and the time invested in it. I think the right person could build with the right skills and tools.

[RC/DC_5000]

I've also seen the air frame panels custom made from aluminum. You can even polish the aluminum to a glass finish. That's pretty cool. Definitely agree the helicopter can lift it. I've seen a custom made aluminum frame 600 on 6s in all out 3D. No problem.

There are downsides. Carbon fiber is much more rigid and considerably lighter. But making it yourself is pretty cool.

[Gladius]

Originally Posted by RC/DC_5000

Thats rich Gladius... considering a few days ago, you told me that saying a battery fills a wire with electrons is "patently ridiculous" along with a string of other personal insults.

Perhaps you might worry more about yourself first.

The guy can say he thinks he's wrong if he thinks he's wrong. Flag his post if you think it needs moderation. But don't go around policing threads. Ethics and morality are not your forte.

Originally Posted by Gladius

I apologize to everyone for losing my temper.

Originally Posted by Gladius

(And I've made my fair share of mistakes in that regard as well.)

I have taken responsibility for my poor behavior. Because of that poor behavior, I've started to notice the same thing cropping up in several difference places. It saddens me, because I don't remember Helifreak being like this until recently. I thought that most of us wanted to help people overcome the challenges of this hobby, and instead I find that a lot of us just need to prove we're right.

I have been part of the problem, and I apologize (again). However, this is our community, and so WE are the ones that shape it. I'd really like to be a part of the solution, and shape it in a positive way.

[pril250]

As far as I have seen there are two main types of Aluminum frames to consider. The first of sheet Aluminum being direct clone of the Carbon Fiber original CNC'ed and drilled to the OEM spec.

The second, a complete original skeleton design out right angled Aluminum members riveted together. This obviously requires some innovation talent to design and build from scratch or if one can find a template of an already existing project.

As some already recommended, for least complication, a replacement to the original frame is an option. I remember seeing some aftermarket replacement sides offering improved design as well a few years back.

[swarf6866]

Originally Posted by ticedoff8

You are so wrong.

Without a CAD system and CNC machine, there is no way anyone could do this and get all the holes to line up and have a airframe that wasn't so out of whack it would fly.

Still Flying (1 min 30 sec)

[Gladius]

Swarf, did you see the video of him flying that same heli for 14 minutes?

[swarf6866]

Originally Posted by Gladius

Swarf, did you see the video of him flying that same heli for 14 minutes?

Is this it?

Infidel.1 (14 min 35 sec)

He has flown the bigger 600 sized one for almost an hour

Troy & Rosie 2 (2 min 58 sec)