R26.R R26 better lower control arms - chapter 2

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Also subscribed, do you have a ball park figure in mind as to how much you will be charging for these?

 

Quite some work there. You milling these from one piece?

 

from looking at machining work i needed doing cant see much change from 500-1k tbh

 

Well if they are they're far too expensive IMHO.

I commission machine parts through small scale engineering companies at work, and looking at these, from 5mm mild steel, I would be looking at not more than £250, from a drawing, for a couple off. Given that the OP only wants to pay his PC electric bill (!), add £50 for the R&D work - £300 tops. Any more and who'll buy them?

 

AST do adjustable top mounts for standard suspension

 

the standard arms are fully serviceable you can change all the bushes and the ball joint fyi

 

I know what your saying Jamie, and I meant £300 each as a finished product.

That should really cover the manufacturing cost for very small scale production. The problem is, to make it viable the costs need to be be way higher due to to development work, prototyping etc, and an implied warranty that surely must be given. What if these fail and pitch somebody into a ditch? I'm not in anyway saying they will, but to be able to sell these in the UK, one must need to perform due diligence with the testing to be sure. This all costs big time.

As a hobbiest making something for themselves/friends this is fine, but it doesn't work as a business model. Sorry if this has put a downer on things guys but just MHO.

 

How do you work out the stresses and forces on the arm to make sure its as strong if not stronger than OEM /the thickness and material needed ,how did you make sure the pick up points are the same as OEM did you make a jig,im not knocking your design or what you are saying im just curious as what you are doing isnt something you do over night as you have said , cheers

 

wow awesome bit of kit bulardas, very impressed

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I didn't realise this...

None the less I'm keen to see the finished product... And if they are stronger than OEM and have the updated bushes etc. I'm having a set the steering arms are not hugely different from what you get on a std megane (from looking at images) I mean they don't look thicker or machined in a different way of you know what I mean... Where are these look purposeful and it sounds like buldaras is getting them stress tested etc...

Let's wait and see the finished product / results / testing before the price wars commence.. Remember these aren't being manufactured in the UK where this sort of work is a lot pricier..

 

Bulardas any update on this?

 

Keep us posted mate, top work :cool:

 

I'm an aerospace engineer by profession.

If you undergoing stress analysis through FEA, how did you measure the actual stress forces and measure the angles and directions of original forces?

What factor of safety are you using?

What software are you using to draw them and carryout FEA?

Will they be lighter than the original arms?

 

Blimey mate are you a CAA auditor lol

 

I wish I knew what he was on about... Google here I come lol

 

Yes. I do lecture CAA courses, part 66 stuff.

 

To be honest, with no implied criticism to the original poster, I wouldn't touch this at all.

Drawing wishbones and doing some simplistic FEA with arbitrary values of stress, is a typical second year university assignment for anyone doing a automotive/Motorsport degree with a CAD unit.

Taking it to production and reliably testing it (including fatigue testing) is something completely different.

The original arms are acceptable. The original poster has not said what he is trying to achieve with his design? Torsional stiffness? Less bending? Lighter weight? Less corrosion prone?

If you really want to stiffen the arms, take an original, and carefully weld ribs and braces to it ensuring the arm isn't subjected to any excessive localised heat (which outs massive stress into local areas and creates micro fractures).

Even just re welding any seams will strengthen it.

 

As an long experience enginer i will give you a free advice how to improve these by at least 20% by a small weight increse.
Just dont mill out the full depth but instead leave 1mm thickness.

If you want me i can run fea analysis for free if you give me your loads etc as i dont have time to do full research of loads that would emerge on a specific car .

I work with Wartsila, RR, Marine institute, NTNU etc..

If interested send me a PM

 

Crikey if this isn't community spirit I don't know what is! Top work guys!

 

Don't ya just love Naff insulting replies like this to someone who is just trying something new and sharing his attempts with the community here and to reply like this before the said item is finished completely is not just rude but just plain arrogant .

To be honest, with no implied criticism to the owner of this replie, I wouldn't bother reading his comment at all.
L-1011 firstly don't underestimate the knowledge and testing facilities that this forum can off people, well done MilosB for your support and help to Bulardas , I would also like to add being an aerospace engineer also that if Bulardos wishes to have this part once finished NDT TESTED then I am more than willing to help with this as I can offer ultrasonic, magnetic-particle, liquid penetrant, radiographic,eddy-current testing,and low coherence interferometry. before and after fatigue and stress testing.

As for being a Lecturer L-1011 as I have also for 7yrs, ive seen good practical and academic Lecturers and also Lecturers who teach from a book and plan it just the night before who know very little about the subject, I have a feeling I know which one you slot into, again no criticism intended.

I would just like to say Bulardas thank you for sharing your project here and I look forward to seeing and reading more my friend and I will wait til the finished article before I pass judgement.
I salute your bravery mate...

 

Subscribed. I'm in aerospace and I love change so great work so far and I look forward to seeing what you end up with. If the product is good I'll have some

 

How many of you guys work in aerospace??? Lol bit jealous... Can you guys not get titanium tubing and knock up some exhausts on the cheap lol

 

What you mean like this lol

 

Oooooops not me best pics lol soz charlie lol

 

Duuuuude get welding an exhaust lol .. I'd be terrible working in aerospace... Just be making contraptions for myself

 

At the risk of being shot down, I'll reply to this. Not least to thank Bulardas for getting back to me with regard the questions I posed.

Bulardas, I apologise if I've been dismissive with my reply and after re-reading it (easily done after all the re qoutes and follow up comments) I was overly critical of your project.

I understand what you are trying to achieve and hope you it works out or at the very least you learn lots along the way.

The point I was trying to make (which others have previously made but not been challenged on) is that I'm not sure of the real value of the return on investment. From that perspective alone I wouldn't be buying your arms. However if I was racing these cars or at least spending some serious time on the track, it would be worth considering. This is indeed your market.

Best of luck and I'll be following your thread from the point of view of interest.

 

Well said L-1011, a good response, we've all been there tired a bit groggy or not concentrating and things come accross differantly to all people.
I dont think this is a money making excercise by buldras just a guy who wants something that isn't already available. People spend silly money on silly mods, I'm one of the worst offenders buying crap that I don't 'NEED'.

I look forward to how this pans out. I'm always up for new ideas on how to spend my tiny pay packet.