Choice Cuts - TNT's milled landing gear.

[Drysdale]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Al Lewis
	What alloy are you making these from?? Forget it, I just found it in the original post. Why not 7075 T6??

Al, cost is one factor and another is availibility and another is just workability. I've tried 7075 over the years but the breakage is very high. And I think this is just a sign of the times but in checking with two of my large mill suppliers they are no longer stocking the sizes that I would need in that grade. They tell me it just did not sell and would not be stocking it much longer. I can find it in bits and pieces here and there but not in the quantities that I would need.
Tom K

[STLAV8R]

	Quote: Originally Posted by McFueler
	Carden already has these lightened gears call and ask Dennis about them.

The only lightened gears I see from on Carden's web site are carbon fiber gears from Supergear.

[Al Lewis]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Drysdale
	Al, cost is one factor and another is availibility and another is just workability. I've tried 7075 over the years but the breakage is very high. And I think this is just a sign of the times but in checking with two of my large mill suppliers they are no longer stocking the sizes that I would need in that grade. They tell me it just did not sell and would not be stocking it much longer. I can find it in bits and pieces here and there but not in the quantities that I would need. Tom K

I keep forgetting I'm in the land of Boeing with every available alloy known to man readily available. LOL They look great!!

[Fixed Wing]

	Quote: Originally Posted by STLAV8R
	The only lightened gears I see from on Carden's web site are carbon fiber gears from Supergear.

I received this gear with my Carden 126" Extra. It's was an option in place of the regular gear for a small fee.

[SmoothFlying]

I see the weight for each gear but what is the weight savings?

[STLAV8R]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Fixed Wing
	I received this gear with my Carden 126" Extra. It's was an option in place of the regular gear for a small fee.

What brand is it? Looks nice. Just wondering how much weight it saves compared to carbon fiber and what the difference in strength is?
Looks like they the lightened aluminum gears aren't advertised on the web site, but are an option when purchasing the kit.

[Fixed Wing]

	Quote: Originally Posted by STLAV8R
	What brand is it? Looks nice. Just wondering how much weight it saves compared to carbon fiber and what the difference in strength is? Looks like they the lightened aluminum gears aren't advertised on the web site, but are an option when purchasing the kit.

The lightened landing gear weighed 17.4 ounces. Remember this plane is the new bigger 126" wing version versus the 118" typical Carden 40%. I don't have the original gear to compare how much weight savings there would be. I would imaging the original gear weighs north of 26 ounces??? Don't know what brand it is. I just know Dennis sends the gear out to someone else to get it milled out. Haven't flown with them yet so I don't know their strength, however, they feel pretty rigid the way they are compared to other gear I've had. I've purchsed the CF gear from Carden for my 40% plane and I really like them (strong & light).

[Drysdale]

	Quote: Originally Posted by TeamFlatout
	I see the weight for each gear but what is the weight savings?

the weight savings would very from gear to gear and manufacture. Some manufactures have their gear coming from all over the world and not from us. We make replacements for most of the manufactures and that savings is anywhere from 5 to 11 ounces from our replacement aluminum gear to our Choice Cut milled gear. Hope this helps. We will be adding many more in the future.
Tom K

[Tired Old Man]

One thing that has always been a big plus with metal gear. It will never delaminate and it can be bent back to shape after a real pranger.

[jaguar bone]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Tired Old Man
	One thing that has always been a big plus with metal gear. It will never delaminate and it can be bent back to shape after a real pranger.

I personally have found that 6061-T6 is close to impossible to bend - back.
If you have bent your T6 gear- as you indicated; you are probably doing major repair & replacements anyhow.

Great idea Tom! I have little love for CF and the trade off for a more fragile gear.

[James Dean Peters]

Ya Dennis gets them from TNT.

[storklappe]

The landing gear that came with my QQ Python was milled in a similar fashion. Although the gear never caused a problem (that I know of) they were so flexible that QQ gave everyone an unmilled set that are more rigid and weigh 5oz more.

[McFueler]

Dennis buys the gears from TNT and then sends the out to be lightened, his gears are a little lighter than the ones that TNT are lightening. Dennis has not put these on his web site yet but is will soon so you must call him to get all the details.

[billd3]

	Quote: Originally Posted by The_Wreck
	Awesome work Tom....(snip)... For people who do not know Tom, you will not find a better, more honest person in this hobby. He really helped J&J out when we got started.

A big +1. Tom is a really straight up guy, and a real pleasure to do business with.

[Temptation]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Drysdale
	the weight savings would very from gear to gear and manufacture. Some manufactures have their gear coming from all over the world and not from us. We make replacements for most of the manufactures and that savings is anywhere from 5 to 11 ounces from our replacement aluminum gear to our Choice Cut milled gear. Hope this helps. We will be adding many more in the future. Tom K

Tom, do you guys plan on adding a lightened gear for 40% Carden Cap 232 to your lineup anytime soon? I know it's not a very popular plane anymore, but I would like one for my Cap.