|
|
|
| Construction Ideas, Hints and Tips For all the builders out there. Ask questions, make suggestions, trade tips. |
Topic Review (Newest First)
|
| 07-07-2012 07:04 AM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Well, a quick update. I have a section of plywood about a foot by 2.5 feet in size. I measured things and put a 5/8th inch hole in the board and sanded out all the splinters, then mounted it via C-clamps. The trim bit and router were positioned and I fired up the router. Everthing looks good. I then cut a couple of test blanks and tried to see how things went. What I learned: 1) use the blank on the right-hand side of the spinning router bit -- less tearing and throwing of bits. 2) blanks need to be just a bit larger than the template, approximately 1/8 inch or so. For the 56-inch wingspan, I'll need the following bits 3/8 inch balsa ribs, every three inches (16) 1/4 inch blasa ribs (4) This will give a wingspan of 52 inches for ribbed structure plus 2 inches for a flat-plate wingtip. Structure will be as follows: center ribs, fuselage edge ribs -- both 1/4 inch balsa, then 3/8 ribs every three inches then the horizontal flat-plate wingtip with triangular braces. Additional bits will be for the standard D-box structure and top-sheeting the ribs between the leading and trailing edges sheets. Think Falcon 56. |
|
| 03-03-2012 11:17 AM | ||
| aspeed |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Lee Valley Tools carries the "Little Red Cap" for about $5. Basically a condom for squirrels. It is made for caulking gun tips to make them last between uses. I never tried it for that, but it works as a bladder for up to .15 sized planes for combat or flea fright planes. The pressure is lower than regular bladders so the needle is easier to set. The fuel attacks it a bit, but they come in a 20 pack. That is one thing that is quite reasonable. A little off topic though. |
|
| 03-02-2012 08:28 PM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router LVT (Lee Valley Tools) might be called the "mothership" for tools and gadgets. Some items are definteily hig-end, and this is one. Lots of others are fun or useful or available, or all of the above. Gardening tools are one item that you can use as an inducement for your spouse to go with you fir a visit. While she's going through the gardening stuff, you're rattling through the tools and other stuff. Makes great gifts for birthdays and Christmas. |
|
| 03-02-2012 10:06 AM | ||
| aspeed |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router $169 just for the arm can buy a few airplane kits. It is just on the verge of scaring away customers at Lee Valley all the time. Nice stuff though. Hmmm maybe I should weld one up to try when it gets warmer out in the shop. 1" by 2" tubing with a 1" sq. arm should work. |
|
| 03-01-2012 04:39 PM | ||
| philipa_240sx |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Lee Valley sells router tables and they also have a pin router arm accessory. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...,43053&p=43885 Like all Lee Valley tools, the quality is excellent but the prices are far from cheap. I would have a hard time spending $400-500 on a setup like this only to use it occasionally. |
|
| 02-27-2012 07:44 PM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router I thought of using just the cast top by itself, but the ridges had me concerned about catching the edge of the balsa. Found an image on the internet -- slightly different model but you can see the ridged top. http://image53.webshots.com/553/4/52...4gPhxja_ph.jpg Going to have to take a serious look at the table and how the router the router adjusts vertically to see if I need a quarter-inch or can use the three-quarter-inch plywood. |
|
| 02-26-2012 08:31 PM | ||
| aspeed |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Sounds ok as long as the formica sheet is fastened good and doesn't move around. A waxing might help even on a cast table. I usually do it so it doesn't rust or oxidize, and slides easier. Just do everything slow and safe and think ahead like most stuff and wear all the safety equipment yada yada. Pictures are good. |
|
| 02-25-2012 11:58 AM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Just a supplementary question and having an idea that I'm exploring. I've got a router table already set up but the top is not smooth, more like ridges running left-to-right so that the piece can easily go past the router bit and fence. Found an image on the internet -- slightly different but you can see the ridged top. http://image53.webshots.com/553/4/52...4gPhxja_ph.jpg The fence is removable, so I'm thinking that rather than disassemble everything and put the router in the new top and so on, I create a formica top that fits over the original top and is held in place with clamps and has a right-sized hole (probably 3/4 inches in diameter for my half-inch laminate bit). Can you see any issues with this particular set up? |
|
| 02-19-2012 01:19 PM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Quick update. I've got the template for the Unionville Club Cricket about half done: qauarter-inch ply forf the base, with small holes drilled for the "spikes" to hold the balsa in position as well as 100-grit sandpaper, but have to pout the superstructure in -- cross-piece and support pieces at the ends to keep everyhthing stright when routing. I then uncovered my roter table and looked at it. FLUP! FSWISH-WOOSH! DANG! It's got lots of grooves cut as it's designed to take wood pieces and have things pushed past the router bit using the guard and other bits and pieces -- one direction push. The rig that I saw being used on RCG had the bit sitting in the middle of the board, allowing the template to be passed by the bit on either side so you can push away and cut one side and pull back ach cut the other, plus do the ends easily. I'm now looking at making a free-form router tabletop using formica laminate and 5-ply one-inch plywood pieces (two layered and screwed together) using a work-mate bench to hold everything at a comfortable level. The objective of the jiog is to keep the fingers sell away from the router bit at speed. IO'm looking at at least an inch vertically and three incheds or so with the cross-piece being six inches in length. Oh well, something to keep me occuppied this weekend while I'm not at the movies ("Iron Lady") or working on the bathroom (trim moulding and painting.) |
|
| 02-14-2012 07:52 PM | ||
| Guest |
Re: Making ribs using a template and a router Quote:
I'm currently working on the pure router apprach -- I'm going to make adjustable legs for the cross-brace that goes across the rib template. It'll make the job of changing the wood thickness easy for the centre ribs (quarter inch versus one-eighth for the regular ribs. Next step will be making templates for cutting the spar slots. |
|
| This thread has more than 10 replies. Click here to review the whole thread. | ||
Your Privacy Choices