> Pietenpol-List: Re: Bending 5052 Fuel Tank

[matronics]

Original Posted By: Jim Ash
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Bending 5052 Fuel TankOur handy dandy metals whiz wheel says 0.040" 5052-H32 min bend radius is 1/32"Chrissi & Randi_www.CozyGirrrl.com_ (http://www.cozygirrrl.com/) CG Products, Custom Aircraft HardwareChairwomen, Sun-N-Fun Engine WorkshopIn a message dated 10/20/2011 5:54:29 P.M. Central Daylight Time, ashcan(at)earthlink.net writes:--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: Jim Ash If you're going to put sharp bends in the sheet, spend a few minutes and find out what the minimum bend radius should be for your chosen material and its thickness. Smaller than this, you risk cracking the corners. I just found a chart in AC43-13 online at:http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/at/courses/ ... erestingly, 5052-H32 at thicknesses .032 and smaller have zero minimum on this chart. .064 says 1/2-1 times the thickess of the sheet. Not having a table entry for .040, I'd err on the conservative and go with the .063 number, and I'd probably go more conservative and use the 1x radius instead of the 1/2x, leaving me with a minimum radius of .040.Keep in mind, it's the minimum, so your results don't have to be accurate to that radius, just larger than the minimum. If you're bending these corners with a brake, lots of folks slide a piece of scrap sheet or cardboardon top of the sheet you care about to establish the radius. A drill bit laid inside the bend makes for a quick gauge of the radius.Jim Ash-----Original Message----->From: Don Emch >Sent: Oct 20, 2011 3:45 PM>To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com>Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Bending 5052 Fuel Tank>>>Michael,>>The 5052 is very nice to work with. I made a nose tank that holds 14.5 gallons. I used exterior flanges of about 3/8", mainly because it is easier to hold together for welding. Just two pieces. Kinda like two clam shells. First welded a nice pretty seam and had leaks. The went back over it with a big ugly seam and have never had a leak. One very important consideration is to keep it high enough to clear a persons feet in the front cockpit. This will also keep it high enough for head pressure. These are old "pre digital camera days" pictures.>>Don Emch>NX899DE>>>Read this topic online here:>>http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: >>http://forums.matronics.com//files/phot ... ______Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:58:41 -0400 (GMT-04:00)

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Jack"
Why are you surprised? The tensile strength of Spruceis over 12,000 lb/inch. Laminations are not necessarilygoing to make it stronger but most likely will make itheavier. Also compression strength (negative G ) is4500 lb/inch. How much does a Piet weigh? Howmany G's are you expecting to pull?Clif. I was amazed that the solid spruce wing struts did not have any kind reinforcement. Not even laminations. The cabane struts had chunks of wood missing at the ends; above the bolt holes. Not much there. Yikes!>> Pretty though!>> Don Emch> NX899DE________________________________________________________________________________

[matronics]

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Michael another caution for you. Make sure you leave plenty of clearancefor tank fit. I thought I did and it fits tighter than I would like.JackDSM-----Original Message-----