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Willing to help in my fab shop | 20 comments (20 topical, editorial)

Re: Willing to help in my fab shop (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by MattM on Sun Apr 6th, 2008 at 08:48:04 PM MST
(User Info)

I bet that plasma machine would spark a lot of interest from the folk around here. Many people love their wind turbines to use hubs cut from steel and often the bigger wind turbines fasten to the wood blades with both face and back plates cut from hardened steel. You have the big toys... err... tools we all dream about.
----------------------------- Go Huskers!

16 ga Al = .050 thickness aka "Oh-fifty" (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by MattM on Sun Apr 6th, 2008 at 09:03:08 PM MST
(User Info)

I've toyed around with a few 18 gauge/.040 ("Oh-forty") aluminum blades. They don't have the rigidity for handling sustained winds over 35 mph. Definitely wouldn't recommend doing more than a 7' wind turbine with the .040 material, and only that big if it furls. My three blade 10' test rig showed considerable deformations from 40+ mph winds after around three months of handling stuff upwards of 35 mph - even with three layers at the hub (two layers out to the tip) and a few strengthening bends in the material. The 18 gauge test rig in mild steel and built using the same plan handled it without noticeable problems.

How is the 16 gauge/.050 aluminum of yours holding up?
----------------------------- Go Huskers!
[ Parent ]

Willing to help in my fab shop | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial)

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