Brian Trubee wrote:

How about a hole saw?

Paul Lamar responded:

Due to the pie shape of the ribs you will hardly get enough useless
material out of there to make it worth while. Think of a cast
aluminum spoked wheel. It is easy to figure out the weight
savings. Multiply the volume in cubic inches of material removed
by .1 which is the density of aluminum in pounds per cubic inch.

Paul Lamar

Russell Kent wrote:

I guess I should read *all* of my email before responding...  I keep
re-learning that lesson.

Russell Kent

Paul, Hole saw a series of increasingly larger holes from the center out, 
or just do two and then cut out the web between them.
As an after thought, how much of those ribs are required? Could they 
be cut down tapering from the pan radius to the mounting
flange?

Rick Girard

Yes. Perhaps the ribs could be cut down in that manner. When I see it I 
will calculate how much weight that will save.

Paul Lamar
 
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