[NSRCA-discussion] R/C design software?

[Bob Richards]

Way back when I was producing Miss Martha kits, ALL of the ribs were sanded using a table sander with the belt vertical. I had a jig that held the stacked wood, and there was a guide on the table of the sander that the jig slid up to. I typically made 50 sets of ribs at once this way. Obviously, this only works with a constant chord wing where all the ribs are the same size.

Needless to say, I took the sander outside when I did this. I ended up with a huge pile of balsa dust on the ground after I was done. After the ribs were sanded to shape, I then used a jig on the bandsaw to notch for spars.

I still have all the jigs. I've been thinking of building a couple of Marthas.

Bob R

--- On Fri, 5/30/08, John Ferrell <johnferrell at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: John Ferrell <johnferrell at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] R/C design software?
> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Date: Friday, May 30, 2008, 7:24 PM
> 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
> >
> ======================================================================
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> > NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> >
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> > 
> 
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