Stainless Frame

[Disco]

Is there anything wrong with making a stanless frame?

[asra]

You would have to check the fatigue rating and strength of the different grades. I know some of the welding alloys are very tough. If it"s strength your after and not corrosion resistance larger section aluminium or better still a triangulated frame would do the job with better strength to weight.Check out Ken Wallis"s drop test. Its on youtube called "Wallis crash" It had a triangulated frame.

[Weedy]

G"day, I believe the MT03 frame is stainless?

[Tim]

I am not a fan of stainless steel frames. It is probably only ignorance on my part as I have no long term data to back up its durability. I do believe that Magni has be going long enough to be able to quote some impressive figures but they would be the only ones despite some other short term claims.There are as many grades of stainless as there are of aluminium and how you would find out what would be suitable or not I would not know. Too ductile and it would have a very short fatigue life, and too high tensile and it would be stronger but have a catastrophic failure rate. Also, all stainless frames that I have seen have had welded joints, which then becomes a weak point and a stress raiser. Specialist welding and heat treating would be an absolute must.Another thing to consider is that steel is ~ 3 times the weight of aluminium so to have comparable weight it would have to be one third the thickness (ie. 1 mm) - not for me.

[Adrian S]

Guys,An
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[asra]

looking at Tim"s and Adrian"s posts there would be a better option to survive a drop test or hard landing. Dampened suspension would save having to strengthen the frame. I think Sportcopter sell a dampened suspension and I believe the Monarch also has one.

[Disco]

Thanks guys for the good responces.I"m interested in getting a 2 seater project going.