- Joined
- Nov 28, 2013
- Messages
- 196
I'm building R/C planes using a 3d printer and *.STL files published by an outfit in Czechia. The models are quite good but the one which I just built cries out for retractable landing gear which, alas, is not an option. The STL files are too complex to easily modify so my plan is to mill out a box volume in the bottom of the wing center section, 3d print the hard points and the box to receive the gear when it is retracted and glue said box into the space I've cut out of the wing. My assumption is that with ample use of CA glue, the result will be strong enough to support the plane on the gear and the structure of the wing will not be compromised. Besides, this is an oportunity to learn something the old fashioned hard way, by trying it.
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The problem is making a fixture to hold onto the center section of the wing while the cutout is being milled. The wing is quite delicate. At first I thought I'd convert the STL file to a solid and subract it from a rectangular block to get a cavity which would fit the top of the wing. This turns out not to be the simple thing I thought it would be.
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What I'm planning now is to make a rectangular dam on an aluminum plate which will hold casting resin and be deep enough to accept the center section of the wing wrapped in saran wrap which I will push down into the resin far enough (and hold down) to make a good cavity which will later support this section while I mill the box volume out of it.
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I'm expecting the milling will be done with very light cuts and that I will hold the wing section in the cavity with custom clamps - likely wood cut to fit.
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If the above isn't clear, let me know and I'll try again.
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If it is clear, can anyone see anythilng nuts here, or better yet offer suggestions of aspects I may not have thought of?
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I'd also be grateful to learn if I should have posted this in some other place.
john ferguson
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The problem is making a fixture to hold onto the center section of the wing while the cutout is being milled. The wing is quite delicate. At first I thought I'd convert the STL file to a solid and subract it from a rectangular block to get a cavity which would fit the top of the wing. This turns out not to be the simple thing I thought it would be.
.
What I'm planning now is to make a rectangular dam on an aluminum plate which will hold casting resin and be deep enough to accept the center section of the wing wrapped in saran wrap which I will push down into the resin far enough (and hold down) to make a good cavity which will later support this section while I mill the box volume out of it.
.
I'm expecting the milling will be done with very light cuts and that I will hold the wing section in the cavity with custom clamps - likely wood cut to fit.
.
If the above isn't clear, let me know and I'll try again.
.
If it is clear, can anyone see anythilng nuts here, or better yet offer suggestions of aspects I may not have thought of?
.
I'd also be grateful to learn if I should have posted this in some other place.
john ferguson