[NSRCA-discussion] R/C design software?

[John Ferrell]

Laser cutting looks like the best solution to me if you can afford it!

A popular low tech solution resembles router cutting with templates. The big 
difference is that the actual cutting is done by sanding disks or drums. 
Using actual router bits does not work well with balsa & lite ply. Work 
holding is a critical safety issue. It makes lots of dangerous dust too. 
Costs are low but good precision is possible.

If you use fingers for work holding you won't last long!

John Ferrell    W8CCW

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do 
nothing." -- Edmund Burke
http://DixieNC.US

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Simes" <simestd at netexpress.com>
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] R/C design software?


> On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:52:08 +0000
> JEREMY CHINN <lagrue at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Tom, I've been designing for too many years. Started with graphite and
>> velum just like you did.
>>
>> When I made the switch to CAD, I began using TurboCad and have used it
>> ever since.
>>
>> For Airfoils, I use a French program called Tracfoil. I never had the
>> $'s to try compufoil, and Profili was always horrible IMO. Tracfoil
>> has a free trial period with all the bells/whistles working and its
>> cheap.
>>
>> Since I began using TurboCad and Tracfoil, I've designed approximately
>> a dozen airframes per year with them.
>>
>> BTW, I've also been designing profiles for a while, if you need any
>> assistance with that, let me know.
>>
>> My own current design project (at least the one that is under
>> construction) is my first 2m pattern plane.......... I used Tracfoil
>> for the airfoils and Turbocad to draw the airframe.
>
> That's great information Jeremy and a very generous offer!  You're
> very modest about your profiles :)  I'm just noodling around right now,
> but I was pretty surprised how crude the fuselage truss designs are on
> some of the most popular profiles.  That thought led to some aerodynamic
> musings and now the full on descent to madness...
>
> By the way, when you're prototyping or doing limited kit runs, what
> method have you found to be most efficient for cranking out say 5-15
> sets of ribs or other complex balsa pattern?
>
>
> Tom
>
> ======================================================================
>   "Z-80 system stack overflow.  Shut 'er down Scotty, the system's
>         sucking mud" - Error message on TRS 80 Model-16B
>
> Tom Simes                                       simestd at netexpress.com
> ======================================================================
> _______________________________________________
> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>