by bauermech » Sat May 20, 2006 6:26 pm
by bauermech
Sat May 20, 2006 6:26 pm
Thanks Lomruz and Biotron
Second... I'm interested in making some custom aluminum parts for various alterations to my RN1. Cutting shapes is no problem, but is there a good DIY method for making clean bends? Also, what type of aluminum did you use?
I'll be posting the process soon, but to answer some of the questions...
I used our manual break at work for most of it. I tried using my father-in-law's aluminum break for doing storm doors and windows, but it just didn't produce a sharp enough bend (you might have better luck w/ a newer one). Each break that I've encountered has been a little different from the last. I made several test breaks to find out where the bend met in reference to my scribe-line... exactly, and went from there.
I assume the new grips were bent using a turret punch.
The aluminum in the torso is 5051 and about .048" thick. It's easily workable but once anodized, stiffens and strengthens up the part. The parts are a bit thicker than I'd like, but was the only thing I found that I could buy in sheet-form locally. The added thickness makes me more confident that the thing won't fall apart and keeps the MR-C3024 from flexing on its posts... but also adds to his over-all weight. A thinner sheet with strategically placed bends would be the way to go in my opinion. I just don't have much time to do it right

...for now.
Hope this helps

Thanks Lomruz and Biotron
Second... I'm interested in making some custom aluminum parts for various alterations to my RN1. Cutting shapes is no problem, but is there a good DIY method for making clean bends? Also, what type of aluminum did you use?
I'll be posting the process soon, but to answer some of the questions...
I used our manual break at work for most of it. I tried using my father-in-law's aluminum break for doing storm doors and windows, but it just didn't produce a sharp enough bend (you might have better luck w/ a newer one). Each break that I've encountered has been a little different from the last. I made several test breaks to find out where the bend met in reference to my scribe-line... exactly, and went from there.
I assume the new grips were bent using a turret punch.
The aluminum in the torso is 5051 and about .048" thick. It's easily workable but once anodized, stiffens and strengthens up the part. The parts are a bit thicker than I'd like, but was the only thing I found that I could buy in sheet-form locally. The added thickness makes me more confident that the thing won't fall apart and keeps the MR-C3024 from flexing on its posts... but also adds to his over-all weight. A thinner sheet with strategically placed bends would be the way to go in my opinion. I just don't have much time to do it right

...for now.
Hope this helps
