Welcome to Our Community

Some features disabled for guests. Register Today.

Bending OpenRail to a Radius

Discussion in 'General Talk' started by HogWild, Dec 16, 2016.

  1. HogWild

    HogWild New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2015
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Has anyone attempted to bend OpenRail on a radius so wheels travel in a circle? If it would work, I'm considering a 30" radius (5ft circle) and using 4 or 5 sections to form the circle.

    Thoughts? Is this a bad idea? If so, maybe I could have have 45deg angles machined on both sides of 3/16" x 1" stainless then bent on a 30" radius for the V-wheels to run/ride on. Bending OpenRail would save machining costs.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
    Staff Member Moderator Builder

    Joined:
    May 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,668
    Likes Received:
    627
    The snag is, it is designed not to bend, hence all the integral shapes built into it. It is the same principal as corrugated iron. If it were a solid piece of aluminium, it would, with great care, bend to a certain degree,Openrail will most likely buckle internally before you could get any sort of significant curve. :(
    Gray
     
  3. HogWild

    HogWild New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2015
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    GrayUK, are your comments are about OpenRail or V-slot Linear Rail? The product in this picture is OpenRail.......
    [​IMG]
     
    #3 HogWild, Dec 16, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2016
  4. Rick 2.0

    Rick 2.0 OpenBuilds Team
    Staff Member Moderator Builder Resident Builder

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2013
    Messages:
    2,852
    Likes Received:
    1,524
    The only potential problem would be knocking the 45 degree angles at the top off a slight bit. which would in turn affect how the wheels ride. How critical that will be all depends on how tight your tolerance requirements are and what you are using it for. Shouldn't be an issue to bend though. You might just order up a couple of sticks and give it a try as it would not really be that expensive of an experiment if it fails (assuming you're in the US of course or somewhere that has a distributor).
     
  5. HogWild

    HogWild New
    Builder

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2015
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    For this application, position tolerance is no issue. Just need wheels to roll around a 60" circle while supporting a carriage hanging below with a 15lb load.
     
  6. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
    Staff Member Moderator Builder

    Joined:
    May 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,668
    Likes Received:
    627
    My apologies HogWild. Got the wrong end of the stick completely. Doh! :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice