wood

[jnev]

I searched and couldn't find anything related, so I thought I would ask. I have access to a wood shop every other week day. I was wondering if anyone has tried to make a motor mount out of wood, or if it would or has a chance of working. I was wondering the same about a battery tray. I think that a battery tray may work, but would a wooden motor mount have too much flex to hold the motor?

Thanks

[mwe-maxxowner]

Wood would not work. It may for a time, but it will wear and loosen/quit working as well. I've worked in a cabinet shop and around wood for years, and I'm certain it would not work. Have contemplated making a few parts from wood out of curiosity before though.

[BrianG]

When it gets wet/damp, it expands. At any rate, wood simply does not have the density and hardness of metal or even some plastics.

If it's very easy to work with, maybe make some mock-ups of an idea instead of using relatively expensive metal. But to actually use it; I wouldn't.

[seth556]

A very long time ago I saw a guy that converted his nitro to electric with a wooden motor mount.

[Mike.L]

A motor mount, no. But a battery tray shure why not. Stain it and put high gloss!

[jnev]

Thanks for the replys guys. I will probably make one and then install on the rc just to see how it looks, and then if I like it... I will send it to Mike or some other machinest to make it out of quality metal.

How about a battery tray. Mike L. said that it should work... anyone else have any opinions?

[BrianG]

Depends I guess. For the tray to be fairly strong when made of wood, I would think the walls would have to be about 1/8" thick (like plywood) to handle the inertia of the batteries when the vehicle hits something, lands from jumps, etc. If you make the walls too thin, the cells will break right through. I dunno - maybe. For the work involved, I would rather use something like fiberglass so you can make some pretty crazy shapes.

[skellyo]

Why not use HDPE for the battery tray? It's a high density plastic that can be cut using standard woodworking tools.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/cat...name=72&Page=1

[captain harlock]

I once thought that I could make a rc vehicle out of wood, but then again, wood can't stand all of the elements like metal and plastic.

[Procharged5.0]

Originally Posted by BrianG

When it gets wet/damp, it expands. At any rate, wood simply does not have the density and hardness of metal or even some plastics.

If it's very easy to work with, maybe make some mock-ups of an idea instead of using relatively expensive metal. But to actually use it; I wouldn't.

+1

I've used wood for mock-ups and for templates but you need a metal or thermoplastic material for "the real thing".

[HotnCold]

Good call Skellyo - thats what mike and i use when prototyping parts - A thick HDPE milled out to hold batteries works wonders... Good call

[jnev]

Thanks for the link skellyo. I've never seen that material before. I think I'll try it just for mock ups of what the real thing will look like.

Thanks a lot guys.

[Procharged5.0]

That's a good source. Thanks!

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by HotnCold

Good call Skellyo - thats what mike and i use when prototyping parts - A thick HDPE milled out to hold batteries works wonders... Good call

Thanks...I've got some of it sitting here ready to make my own battery trays with it soon. I just went with 1/2" though, planning to sink the batts into it about 1/4".

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by ***RC***

Thanks for the link skellyo. I've never seen that material before.

Sure you have...it's what most cutting boards are made out of. Heck, a lot of it on usplastics.com is even FDA approved. :D