Right now I am avoiding the intense rain here and am researching engine
   stuff indoors.
   I can easily mill the hole when I get ready, I have a couple expendable
   housings that will work if the sweat is successful. IMS is down the
   street if I need materials and I have a lot of that already. It's a
   month or so down the road before I get into this particular project.

   On a different note, I am learning how to do aluminum castings. I am
   looking for the best casting material for center and end housings,
   possibly one to the ceramic metal matrix hyper alloys and beralcast 363
   for rotor material. It appears to be the only beryllium alloy on the
   market and can be investment cast to near net. Do you have any knowledge
   on this stuff? I've been reading about it for about a day, and looking
   for a supplier.

   Ed Carver

   I have heard of aluminum/beryllium alloys .70% the density of aluminum.
   Makes great rotors. What is the density of beralcast 363?

   Paul Lamar



The spec related text is from the below link:

http://www.mdatechnology.net/techprofile.aspx?id=403

   --

GENERAL BERALCAST® ADVANTAGES

Advantages over Aluminum

* About 22 percent lower density with essentially equivalent
strength to A356 aluminum

* About 3 times stiffer (modulus of elasticity in tension)

* 2 to 4 times more dimensional stable than aluminum
to 10 times better in damping coefficient for stability and jitter
reduction depending upon the driving resonant frequencies.

* About 30 percent lower in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for
matching of mating parts.

Advantages over Beryllium

*About 3 times greater ductility than hot pressed beryllium with
greater damage tolerance

*Castable for complex and precise net shape configurations

*Weldable for defect repair
*Reduced scrap generation, machining and environmental process
concerns. Does not require post-machined chemical milling

*About 1/4 the raw material input cost [of what?]


Sounds like the solution to the need for a better/lighter A356 alum.
Tomorrow I might be able to get a cost and availability on this stuff.

Ed Carver


Sounds like aluminum/beryllium alloy to me. What is the cost?

Paul Lamar