Began work on the Horizonal Stab today. Ribs were cut and formed a few days back. Cut and bent Both Spars and doublers today. Used the Bend Excel Program Larry Winger wrote. Debo Cox had provided me with some help on how to use it and it works great. Bends were right on the money. Almost makes me feel like I know what I'm doing. I am learning.
Tried to use an air cutting tool I had and tried to use on another project a few years back. That project used 5051-H34 - .080 Aluminum and it laughed at the tool....no way would it cut it properly. On this project, however, with the much thinner gauges it walked through the .040 like a hot knife through butter. Clean edge, easy to use, easy to control. It wastes a 6mm strip of aluminum on each cut - and that must be factored in when measureing and marking peices next to each other.
Also used my angle die cutter with a 3M abrasive wheel (the kind mechanics use to clean gasket surfaces) with a fine pad and it did a super job of smoothing the edges of the spars and doublers. Fast, clean, smooth.
With the help of a network of super builders that are eager and willing to advise, the right materials and the right tools - this project is very doable. I'm very much enjoying myself.
Larry Wingers Bend Excel Program Calculation Sheets
