Can G10 be substituted for aluminum and stainless?

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Chotu, Jan 31, 2022.

  1. Chotu
    Joined: Mar 2018
    Posts: 87
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    Location: Florida

    Chotu Junior Member

    I have a lot of little parts to have custom fabricated in aluminum and stainless. These are parts for a bow tube in a catamaran.

    what about making these from G10 instead?
    It’s proving impossible to find people willing to make these parts.
     
  2. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    Location: usa

    fallguy Senior Member

    Yeah, fab work in aluminum was difficult to find people in my neck of the woods as well.

    You'll need to do your homework to see if the engineering properties are suitable.
     
  3. Coastal Ogre
    Joined: Jun 2019
    Posts: 47
    Likes: 9, Points: 8
    Location: Florida

    Coastal Ogre Junior Member

    Many folks are doing this very same thing. You will need to confirm the material specs of the aluminum and SS v. the G10 (not all G10 is created/manufactured equal...). This would give an empirical analysis. And you would need to conservatively approximate the dynamic loading on the metal 'little parts'. For a small fee (surely) one of the resident NA's around here would provide you the calc's with their PE stamp on the document.

    I also would consider looking at several of the more reasonably priced companies offering carbon fiber flat sock. I've had good experiences with one in California.

    Good luck & let us know how the project comes out! I'm considering fabricating a longeron for my cat as well.
     

  4. Rumars
    Joined: Mar 2013
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    Location: Germany

    Rumars Senior Member

    You don't say what exactly you are trying to have fabricated, so it's impossible to give meaningful advice. But in general yes, it's possible to redesign fittings to be made out of composites instead of metal. Of course you may not be happy with their appearance or size afterwards, since they will not look like their metal counterparts.
    As for finding someone to do them in metal, it is just a question of money. If you are prepared to pay jewelers rates, it's no problem. If you expect to pay the normal machine shop hourly rate you better be prepared to wait until someone runs out of work and needs to pay his bills. Making small parts with complicated geometries and a good surface finish for cheap is not on high on a fabricators wish list.
     
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