How do I make this

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Hello all

I'm new to the forum

I would like to make a set of scale airliner retracts from aluminium

thing is I've never used a lathe before so need advice on which would be recommended

I've just bought a Clarke CMD10 milling machine

I need to make scale airbus landing gear pictures enclosed

can anyone recommend a lathe suitable

I know it's a big project to take on but I am a quick learner!

take the struts for instance on the full size they look to be formed from cast could these be made from a lathe would you start off with oversize rod and turn the metal down leaving the bush parts to be milled ? And bore the inside ?

Im totally new to model engineering at least in metal fabrication

I'd welcome your advice

Edited By JasonB on 25/02/2014 20:01:11

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yes a combination of milling, turning and some hand finishing will do the job.

An Idea of scale would give us a better idea of what lathe to suggest, also is it a working model or just for static display?

If you are a subscriber have a look at Ramon's current article on the aero engine and see the methods he used to shape a block of aluminium into a work of art, the same basic methods would apply to your strut.

J

Edited By JasonB on 25/02/2014 20:15:20

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Hi

yes it will be a working scale model

The plane I'm building is roughly 1/15th scale 2.1M wing span I would like to replicate the scale flaps and slats as well again I'm totally new to engineering as don't want to waste a load of metal if I can help it

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Andy

Welcome aboard……

I have not been in the UK for a while but there used to be a strut on display at the entrance of the Science museum South Ken I am not sure of the type but you could give them a ring. They might even let you have some quality time with a tape measure if you make an appointment.

**LINK**

Regards
John

Edited By John McNamara on 26/02/2014 07:42:08

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Hi john

thanks for the link unfortunately that is the A330 undercarriage and I'm modelling the A320!

what a shame thou because I'm sure I could get all the measurements I need wit close up shots o the mechanism

worth a visit anyway I'd say

i found this as well I believe it outside the airbus building probably in France

it's something else I need to fabricate

maybe an email to airbus good be useful

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/A320_WingDetails_12.jpg

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Andy, you will not be able to scale down the landing gear exactly as the full size item. Here you have to compromise in making something that looks like the real thing but is light enough to be able to be fitted to your model. I am supposing you will be doing it as a retractable landing gear?

If you have photos then make scale drawings and add what detail is important. From that make the item using alu. tube and the fixings as best you can with small bits turned and filed to shape and glued on/together with araldite or some other suitable adhesive. Super detail at that scale is not worth doing if you are trying to save weight, also retracts will be hard to retract if too heavy. I doubt you will need any hydraulic effect as you can simulate that with springs inside. Its all doable with the machine you have. You will learn as you go on and if it is no good do it again.

Clive

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Thanks clive

ive not bought a lathe yet but I'm sure with practice i could make something similar as you say lightness is important

it should give me many hours of work but eventually hopefully will work out cheaper than buying a set plus you have the satisfaction of making it yourself

milling machine being delivered tomorrow

will need a vice and parallels then off I go I will post a few pictures here of the work to share

[StevoParticipant @stevo]

Welcome!

Is this a flying scale model – or just scale? If its flying, then of course it will only be a representation of the original, as it will need to be quite a bit stronger…

If it does not work out with the milling machine please send it to me

Edited By Stevo on 26/02/2014 12:00:46

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Hi guys

having looked at the mechanics of the landing gear it does just retract into the wheel bay and does not twist like some designs on the larger aircraft so hopefully this should be as difficult to model

the brackets and scissor oleo I should be able to make from alu on the milling machine

do you think it's possible to make the strut from a solid piece of alu rod turned down on a lathe and leaving the bracket bits to be milled? And ream the inside to accept an oleo piston

it would be a lot simpler if I just used alu tube but then I'd have to make and glue /weld the bracket lugs

welding alu. Now there's another subject !

[mickypeeParticipant @mickypee]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forum. Don't know if I can help you but I will if I can. I fly a 320 and 330 for a living so I can measure any component dimension you need and opposite my home is the man who supplies Airbus all the metal for fabrication. I could ask him if he can get hold of some drawings for you.

Also if you need photo's, I could do that as well.

Mike

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The L shaped strut and its diagonal brace would probably be best made from a piece of flat aluminium bar. This can be mounted in the 4-jaw chuck on the lathe and bored/reamed and some of the outside turned.

Then over to the mill to remove the excess and shape the diagonal strut, finally mount on an arbor and using a rotary table mill the remaining parts of the main strut round then hand file to do the bits you can't get at and blend the flats to the rounds.

Have a look at this thread of one of Ramon's engine builds, the same sort of methods can be used to make your strut, its just a matter of carefully planning each machining opperation so that you always have some way to hole the part for the next one.

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Thanks so much guys for your help at the moment I'm just constructing a working model to figure out the mechanism geometry

micky pee

any photos or diagrams of the mechanics and measurements would be extremely helpful at the moment I'm just working on google photos there are hundreds but I need measurements and angles to get it accurate

Some of the mechanics used on the airbus and Boeing fascinate me and I'm sure with some patience and creativity I could come up with a close replica

i really do wish I did engineering at school!

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Lost wax castings for main body and struts and simple machining to finish .

Hand made patterns in something easy like soldered brass or glued Tufnol/hardwood .

OR

Patterns made by 3d blob printing or stereolithography .

MikeW

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

And don’t nescessarily use aluminium whether cast or fully machined – very weak in these tiny sections . Plenty of alternative materials available .

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

For high strength aluminium, try and find someone who can supply 7075 T651 tooling plate, this has a strength equal to mild steel, and machines as easy as, I use it for parts on some of my hot air engines. Ian S C

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Thanks again guys any recommendations on a lathe to do such a project ?

Are the mill heads interchangeable for a 3 jaw or 4 door I'll. be honest I've never used one but looking at video tutorials it shouldn't take me to long to pick up

[mickypeeParticipant @mickypee]

Leave it with me and I will see what I can do!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Andy Bladen 1 on 27/02/2014 10:29:13:

Thanks again guys any recommendations on a lathe to do such a project ?

Are the mill heads interchangeable for a 3 jaw or 4 door I'll. be honest I've never used one but looking at video tutorials it shouldn't take me to long to pick up

I should think you want something with at least a 7" swing so a Mini Lathe size machine would be about the smallest to consider but something a bit bigger would give a bit more room to play with. Though until you get some drawings prepared it will be hard to tell what sizes you need the machine to handle.

You can't mount the 3 & 4 Jaw chucks onto the mill spindle but provided the socket taper in the mill and lathe spindle are the same then you can mount things like collet chucks, boring heads, flycutters, etc in both machines or if the lathe has a bigger taper then you can sleeve it down to take the mill tooling.

J

Edited By JasonB on 27/02/2014 20:15:19

[Andy Bladen 1Participant @andybladen1]

Well I've just opened the box to my new milling machine and it's broken!

so it's going straight back and I'm not overly impressed with the build quality there seems to be quite a lot of play in the adjusting wheels and the mill head support is broken

nevermind hopefully the company will sort it out

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