Carbon fiber landing gear for 38% Extra?

[JuanSG]

Hello,

I'm building a CAmodel Extra 300L 38%, and I would like to use a carbon fiber landing gear. Where can I find them? I've only seen (on Troybuiltmodels.com and Fibertech) carbon landing gears for smaller airplanes.

Any input would be apreciated

[Chris Puckett]

I used a gear for a Carden 40% Extra and cut it in half then sandwich it with an AL plate. Then you can make it the correct width and with the al. plate you will get the strength back. Adds about 2"

[RCMgraphics]

Email Mike of http://graphtechrc.com/ at support@graphtechrc.com and get him to hook you up

Randy
Team Airtronics

	Quote: Originally Posted by JuanSG
	Hello, I'm building a CAmodel Extra 300L 38%, and I would like to use a carbon fiber landing gear. Where can I find them? I've only seen (on Troybuiltmodels.com and Fibertech) carbon landing gears for smaller airplanes. Any input would be apreciated

[Shawn Berkheimer]

I'm curious as to why you would need a CF gear on this airplane. Mine has the Alum wing tube and gear with an AUW of 35lbs. I myself don't see the need to make this airplane any lighter that it already is.



Shawn

[JuanSG]

Wow, 35lbs with stock wing tube and landing gear? That sounds well. Could you post some photos and what setup are you using?

I was thinking about the CF gear in order to lighten it as much as possible. It's my first 150cc plane, and I would like to get it as good as possible.

thanks

[Shawn Berkheimer]

CA 38% Extra

DA 150 with mufflers
JR 8611 servos, one per elev. 3 on rudder and 2 per ail.
Smart Fly Power Expander.
Fromeco Regs
4000mah Li-poly X2 on the RX 2400 li-ion on iglition
R/C Blimp Titanium tailwheel

Mods to lighten

Composite ARF canopy
Made mold for cowl, lighter cowl layup
Lots of sanding, small amounts of glue

Without any mods at all and not getting carried away with excess glue. Careful choice of equipment 35.5 lbs would be rather easy to hit.

The one pictured unfinished wheighs 18 lbs as pictured. BTW it is for sale

[aerografixs]

I don't beleive a carbon fiber gear is the way to go. No flames please.

this is what I had in my 52% Edge, of course they broke,, the problem with carbon fiber is that it doesn't have flex, and you need a spring action. Carbon Fiber has its place but not in a landing gear.

I am now experimenting with laminated light ply bent in a jig and glued of course,

That's why my company name is Forgues Research

Roger

[Kiwi]

	Quote: Originally Posted by aerografixs
	I don't beleive a carbon fiber gear is the way to go. No flames please. this is what I had in my 52% Edge, of course they broke,, the problem with carbon fiber is that it doesn't have flex, and you need a spring action. Carbon Fiber has its place but not in a landing gear. I am now experimenting with laminated light ply bent in a jig and glued of course, That's why my company name is Forgues Research Roger

Roger no flames, but there is a way to make CF gear unbreakable. Well nothing is unbreakable but this will rip your plane apart before letting go and it still stays lighter than alloy. Alloy bends and if goes past the memory capability it stays bent. This was shown to me by Chip Hyde and he used 33% gear on his 40% plus planes before there was gear available for them. In his case he uses cotton and CA. Does the same job and probably lighter. I used what I could get at the time because I delaminated mine in a hard landing. I found this in a local dress makers shop. Black cotton thread is all it is. Then I wrap the gear, pegging it every inch with CA. Then mix a 30 minute epoxy with 30% alcohol and soak it into the cotton.

If you have an old landing gear around, a delaminated one even better the try it. You wont need to go buy another one I promise.

Kiwi

[3D EXTRA]

Mabe this one http://www.composite-arf.com/ar/Product?300409

[Kiwi]

3D,

These are C-ARF legs that are breaking. The problem is they are great on grass feilds or bitumen feilds, but with no wind or potholes etc.

The leg is made from two flat carbon fibre cloth layups and the filling is epoxy and micro ballons which has absolutely no torsional strength. They will always delaminate at the heel (radius) on the leg because in the bending moment the top laminate wants to move more than the lower. The expoxy micro balloon mix is only a filler and cannot handle that action.

I am not for a minute suggesting C-ARF legs are weak. They are in fact better than most others, and I have broken a few dont worry. But none will take that bending force unless the leg has a true lay with a lot of longitudinal strands and cut fiber to too take that bending force. Epoxy is not a stong material on its own, It need fibres of some sort to give it strength.

Kiwi