Not cycling related, but one of my many other hobbies. I'm looking for some filament wound fibreglass tubing, but am struggling to anyone selling anything suitable via Google. Basically I'm after this stuff -> https://www.madcowrocketry.com/g12-fibe ... airframes/
I don't particularly want to import from the States, due to cost; someone in the UK must make this stuff. Does anyone know of anyone...?
I mean, I could just buy a filament winder and do it myself, but that seems a bit much, even for me...
Sort of, but not quite. The problem with rocketry, is that all the tubes are standardised sizes; you also get couplers tubes to fit etc. Their sizes don't quite match, but that's the kind of thing, I think, that I'm after.
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 5:43 pm
What's it for Bob? Would another material suffice?
It's for high power rocketry. The standard is phenolic tubing (or similar), which in the past we've always fibre-glassed for extra durability. I would like to cut out a bucket load of time, faff and cost, but just going straight to fibreglass tubes. The main problem is needing the tubes to match certain existing diameters, wall thicknesses, etc, plus matching coupler tubes, etc.
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 6:19 pm
Aluminium not strong enough? Carbon too expensive?
Aluminium is generally deemed too dangerous, unless you're going BIG; then you get involved with the CAA for months before you can launch. I'd consider carbon, but it's generally even more spendy than 'glass. But if there was a UK source of filament wound standard diameters, it might be cheaper than importing 'glass tubes from the US. I know the guy that makes these, but they're neither wound, nor in stock.
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 7:04 pm
Why wound Bob? Is that a strength thing or something more technical?
I think it's to do with the angle of the winds; strength in all the directions. I think the issue with a standard cloth layup, is you have to do multiple layers, all off set to get the same strength, and it results in a heavier tube. Folk have made all sorts tubing in the past -> https://www.jcrocket.com/nike-asp.shtml#tubes I was just trying to make my life easier for a change...