Cylinder Ends

**widow_twanky** · 21st July 2008, 22:14

At the UK champs Hydra managed to rip out its ram when the flipper came down on the arena side wall.

Ive taken it out now and was looking at the rod ends and the weight as they are steel.

Is there any milage in having the reproduced in aluminium to reduce the weight of them. If its been done then have there been any issues on fracturing etc?

Andy

**geeza** · 21st July 2008, 22:25

Andy, if you want I can make you such an aluminuim one, will have to be this week as the gaffer is on holiday. Send me an email with all the dimensions and a photo of the broken one.

**widow_twanky** · 21st July 2008, 23:05

Ed,

I was actually talking about the other end to the one which broke. I can make the mount from a bit of hardox and an ali bar.

I was asking about the huge lump of steel on the other end which screws onto the ram. As a weight saving issue.

As its on the active part of the ram I was just wondering if there was any reason why it would not work in ali or whether it was too fragile etc.

Andy

**leorcc** · 22nd July 2008, 07:30

Provided you use the right type of Aluminium alloy (7075 springs to mind) it should be no problem. But if you do, you should pressure test the ram again (150% of working pressure at least).

**woody** · 22nd July 2008, 10:17

Ive taken it out now and was looking at the rod ends ..

ROD ENDS.
http://www.igus.co.uk/wpck/default.aspx?pagenr=2446&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=gadUK3 9&C=GB&L=en&gclid=CIzsstyh05QCFQnllAodK1E_kw http://www.igus.co.uk/wpck/default.a...c_id=gadUK39&C =GB&L=en&gclid=CIzsstyh05QCFQnllAodK1E_kw

**woody** · 22nd July 2008, 10:26

Is there any milage in having the reproduced in aluminium to reduce the weight of them. If its been done then have there been any issues on fracturing etc?
Its difficult to give a definitive answer Andy ...my gut feeling is that it will be fine replacing Hydras rod end with a quality Aluminium item.

**widow_twanky** · 22nd July 2008, 14:35

Thanks Woody, I was thinking the aerospace grade material.

Appreciate that with the forces involved, whatever you put in there (even steel) it is often a matter of luck because if you hit anything with enough force in the right direction it will break.

Cheers

Andy