> >
    > > what will it take to make a composite bell housing?
    > >
    > > Tony
    > >
    > > Good idea.
    > > A female mold and high temp epoxy.
    > >
    > > As I recall the 2nd gen man tx bell weighed 7.5 pounds
    > > so you should get a lot of pounds out of that.
    > > Probably about to .125 wall thickness would be enough.
    > > My guess is 13 plies of carbon cloth will do the job.
    > > Vacuum bag would be wonderful.
    > >
    > > You could sell them or rent the mold out to a composite
    > > shop and let them make and sell them for you.
    > > Carbon fiber would be required for the stiffness needed.
    > > You need to embed some small aluminum spacers where the
    > > bolts go so the composite is not crushed when the bolts
    > > are tightened. You can buy spacers from McMaster car.
    > >
    > > I'll do a sketch of the required spacers for you.
    > >
    > > http://www.dragonplate.com/sections/technology.asp
    > >
    > > .0956 oz per square inch for 13 plies (.124" thick) of carbon
    > > fiber. You will need roughly 6" x 6" x 3.1416 = 113 square
    > > inches for the front and 12" X 3.1416 X 3" deep = 113 square
    > > inches for the sides or 226 square inches times .0956 = 21.6 oz.
    > > looks like 1.35 pounds. Add another pound for misc reinforcements.
    > >
    > > It would be a significant weight savings.
    > >
    > > Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
    >
    > One thing to remember is carbon eats aluminum by galvanic action -
    > attach points for aluminum will need an insulating layer of
   fiberglass
    > or whatever.
    > You might be able to get away with some plastic, wood or just the
   carbon
    > for the hardpoints
    > if the stresses are low enough.
    > Weight savings do look extremely attractive...
    > Cheers
    > Cary

   The guy we need on board here is the guy building the race cars
   and has an all carbon airplane with a corvette motor in it.
   I have his card somewhere what is his name again? anyway,
   he would be the guy to do this one, without a doubt. I tried
   to convince him to make just redrives when we talked at OSH
   he seemed open to it if he could get rich doing it. I think
   his concern was the market was a little lean for all the work
   involved but a simple bellhousing shouldn't be a problem. Plus
   his workmanship is unbelievable.

   Tony


Tony,
If it is the guy that I think you are talking about. This is his link
http://members.iquest.net/~aca/index.htm. His work is rather hardcoe I
must say. His kit is the one that I have been thinking of useing for my
bird.

Jared Humphrey

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