Return-Path: Received: from [63.114.235.82] (account ) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro WebUser 4.0.5) with HTTP id 1996654 for ; Fri, 24 Jan 2003 09:55:39 -0500 From: "Marvin Kaye" Subject: Re: [LML] LNC2 Nose Gear To: lml X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro Web Mailer v.4.0.5 Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 09:55:39 -0500 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format="flowed" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Posted for "Scott & Paula" : The posts on the nose gear have been great. I thought I would throw in my highly eclectic thoughts on this modification: -What grade of aluminum is the factory unit made out of? 6061-T6? 2024-t4? If I was to make or modify this design I would want to use a material at least as good. How about some 17-4 ph high strength stainless? It has given us great fatigue life and corrosion resistance on down-hole drills at work. Of course a stiffer material would add stiffness and more damage under impact than aluminum..... -If you place a rod end on the front arm of the linkage, wouldn't it likely be weaker and prone to fatigue at the root of the thread where it joins the linkage? It might be better to keep the geometry closer to the factory unit and make a new part with a larger nose for a pressed in bearing (if it would fit inside the gear-tab..). That could perhaps give us the best of both worlds. -On my unit I removed a little bit of material from both sides and put thin washers to keep the unit from gouging the sides of the linkage. This in conjunction with a bushing might be a "quick and dirty" bearing, though I would want to make sure not to remove too much material for a bushing and weaken the unit. -Seems like any of these and other ideas could turn into an expensive experiment (prop?). It has been my experience at with most mechanical devices I have designed at work that FEA is invaluable in cases with significant geometry change. Running several iterations often taught me why the factory "used that crazy design"! Perhaps if we as a group can come up with a few good ideas in 3D CAD format that look good, I know someone who would likely run a gratis preliminary FEA as long as it's not to extensive. Scott