I have some of this aluminum i-beam (or at least sort of resembles an i-beam), in my scrap. It is fairly heavy gauge (14 or 15 gauge I believe), and the scrap yard I bought it from said its high-strength aluminum. I have thought about using it as the lengthwise supportive beam. I have enough for 4 on top and bottom.
Any thoughts?
Esscher
Any ideas if this aluminum beam will work for a frame?
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Yo,
I used 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 (pine) for mine,
the only thing is that I put brasses on the sides instead of at both ends...
Only problem is that it is a bit harder to load by the extremity (really not hard thought, and for the price I paid, I am a really happy man)
On the other hand you go math crazy (not this much, it's no hard) and you get:
-the working surface (area) of your pneumatic tubes (the width of your fire hoses that touches the mold/tubes/press/whatever x the length of your fire hoses that touches the mold/tubes/press/whatever)
-the working pressure (multiply it by, say, 1.2 for security)
-the working length of your press
then ...
Area (working surface in square inches) x PSI = force (lbs)
and then...
you divide the force by your working length (you get force (lbs) / length (inches), take your beam, put it on 2 blocks (space in betwwen = working length) and load it until you get to that force/length you just calculated.
If it holds then it means it works,
I am not responsible for any death or damage, but I think it is the best way to test your beams. It will save you lots of time and perhaps flesh if they not strong enough.
A'ight,
French E
I used 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 (pine) for mine,
the only thing is that I put brasses on the sides instead of at both ends...
Only problem is that it is a bit harder to load by the extremity (really not hard thought, and for the price I paid, I am a really happy man)
On the other hand you go math crazy (not this much, it's no hard) and you get:
-the working surface (area) of your pneumatic tubes (the width of your fire hoses that touches the mold/tubes/press/whatever x the length of your fire hoses that touches the mold/tubes/press/whatever)
-the working pressure (multiply it by, say, 1.2 for security)
-the working length of your press
then ...
Area (working surface in square inches) x PSI = force (lbs)
and then...
you divide the force by your working length (you get force (lbs) / length (inches), take your beam, put it on 2 blocks (space in betwwen = working length) and load it until you get to that force/length you just calculated.
If it holds then it means it works,
I am not responsible for any death or damage, but I think it is the best way to test your beams. It will save you lots of time and perhaps flesh if they not strong enough.
A'ight,
French E
chubz: the width is going to be 20", because I have two 6" hoses that lay ~10" when flat. its a little wider than i really need, but i can't exactly return the hoses now! the length is going to be about 7.5', and the bladder is rated at 100 psi, but will press at 50 psi.
hugocacola: when you say cage, you mean 4 or 5 supportive cross members that keep the i-beams from bending/deflecting?
french-e: that helps a lot.. i coudn't quite figure out where you were going with your math at first, but I get it now!
esscher
hugocacola: when you say cage, you mean 4 or 5 supportive cross members that keep the i-beams from bending/deflecting?
french-e: that helps a lot.. i coudn't quite figure out where you were going with your math at first, but I get it now!
esscher