Chris;
I’ve made all kinds of FG special
parts for my project, and considered doing the intake manifold. It’s just
a question of figuring how to make the mold (and get the part off), mating to
flanges; etc. Given in-cowl temps up to possibly about 200F, you’d want
an epoxy good to 250F+. My configuration for the 20B was a bit complex,
and I wanted it to carry the fairly heavy 3-barrel TWM throttle body so I
decided to go to aluminum. I had a very skilled welder, and still it was
a considerable challenge for him.
No reason why composite won’t work
if done right.
Al
-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Friday, July
22, 2005 10:12 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re:
fiberglass runners
I have seen some postings
over the few years I have been on this list regarding making fiberglass runners
for an intake manifold, however, I am unsure if anyone has actually made any
and if not why not. If I understand it correctly they are paths for air and
would not require any "structural strength, just need to be resistant to
the heat in the area they are placed and direct the air properly. If this
is true, and please correct me where I am wrong, why would fiberglass runners
not work. Is it that there are not that many composite guys on the list
(just Mr. Slade and myself?) and as a result are resistant or not skilled in
working with fiberglass. Seems they would be light, easy to form and get
into tighter places and do the job well. However, I am not an engineer
and am concerned about obvious stuff I could easily miss. I am not
skilled with any welding (even though my build partner, David Staten,
just bought a welder for us to learn with) so like the idea of having
alternatives.
I am in the final stages
of my Velocity airframe construction (now in the micro, sand repeat
stage) and feel VERY confident in my abilities with fiberglass. What
obvious stuff am I missing regarding using high temp epoxy to make well
formed runners out of fiberglass. Y'alls input/insight is greatly
appreciated. TIA.