Compression members

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Atlanta
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Compression members

Post by Atlanta »

Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
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Re: Compression members

Post by Dreamz »

Atlanta wrote:Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
1/4 x 1/4 seems like a good place to start, although you might want to consider slightly smaller dimensions to shave off some weight. Just remember that the strength of a compression piece is ultimately determined by how it is reinforced.
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Re: Compression members

Post by MadCow2357 »

Atlanta wrote:Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
What are your bracing intervals?
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Re: Compression members

Post by Atlanta »

MadCow2357 wrote:
Atlanta wrote:Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
What are your bracing intervals?

Hi,
The distance between two compression members is 5.5 cm and I have placed cross bracings at a distance of 6 cms each and total of 7 bracings.
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Re: Compression members

Post by Atlanta »

Dreamz wrote:
Atlanta wrote:Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
1/4 x 1/4 seems like a good place to start, although you might want to consider slightly smaller dimensions to shave off some weight. Just remember that the strength of a compression piece is ultimately determined by how it is reinforced.

okay, will try a smaller dimension.
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Re: Compression members

Post by mnoga »

Atlanta wrote:
Dreamz wrote:
Atlanta wrote:Hi,
Need help with compression members. All these while I have been using 1/4 * 1/4 Balsa compression members, tried various tension members both Balsa and Bass. In the last few tests I notice that 1/4*1/4 compression members break after reaching load of 9 kgs. Any suggestions on how to strengthen the compression members ? Should I go for different Balsa dimensions ?
Thanks.
1/4 x 1/4 seems like a good place to start, although you might want to consider slightly smaller dimensions to shave off some weight. Just remember that the strength of a compression piece is ultimately determined by how it is reinforced.

okay, will try a smaller dimension.
I've seen a lot of teams using 1/8 x 1/4 compression beams (single beam each side). The double platform designs typically use four 1/8 x 1/8 compression beams.
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Re: Compression members

Post by Lorant »

mnoga wrote:
Atlanta wrote:
Dreamz wrote:
1/4 x 1/4 seems like a good place to start, although you might want to consider slightly smaller dimensions to shave off some weight. Just remember that the strength of a compression piece is ultimately determined by how it is reinforced.

okay, will try a smaller dimension.
I've seen a lot of teams using 1/8 x 1/4 compression beams (single beam each side). The double platform designs typically use four 1/8 x 1/8 compression beams.
Try U beams for compression.
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