I ask because I am doing research into portable solar tracking solar ovens and I am finding solid steel gears to be too heavy for portability and I think AL-LI gears may be the answer.
Gears not a task for AL-LI, there are durability issues. look at other aluminum alloys.
Elon Musk recently demonstrated "friction stir welding", I'm still not quite sure how this process works.
"In addition to producing a wide range of billet sizes up to 33-inches in diameter, we will also be able to produce slab capable of producing wing skin plate and fuselage sheet for any current or planned commercial air program," said Roegner. "Our process, thermal and filtration systems all will be state-of-the-art."
I think AL-LI gears would be a lot more durable than wood or plastic.
Quote from: zaarin on 02/08/2012 07:25 pmI think AL-LI gears would be a lot more durable than wood or plastic.Depends on the plastic. Also, what is the duty cycle of the gears, how often are they in use, RPM, loads, etc.
Al-Li is not a ISRU material.
Quote from: Jim on 02/08/2012 07:47 pmAl-Li is not a ISRU material.No, but could it be made from lunar regolith?
I've built a system but it is heavy and cumbersome. The gears RPM is 1 cycle every 20 minutes to accurately point the dish at the sun. Here on Earth I'm fighting winds so I've over engineered my gearbox with a 35mm steel pinion gear going onto a 155mm solid steel gear mod 1.25. The dish/sensor weighs 4kg and with a materials processor at the focal point it may be as high as 10kg.
Quote from: Jim on 02/08/2012 07:22 pmGears not a task for AL-LI, there are durability issues. look at other aluminum alloys. I think AL-LI gears would be a lot more durable than wood or plastic.Nevertheless, could you suggest another lightweight material more durable?
Quote from: zaarin on 02/08/2012 07:25 pmQuote from: Jim on 02/08/2012 07:22 pmGears not a task for AL-LI, there are durability issues. look at other aluminum alloys. I think AL-LI gears would be a lot more durable than wood or plastic.Nevertheless, could you suggest another lightweight material more durable?I suggest looking into using multiple materials such as a plastic hub and a metal ring gear.Standard high silicon aluminum alone probably would get the weight savings you'd want if you design the gears right.Ie make them open like a bike sprocket vs solid.Though since it's low speed you could look into using a linear actuator which uses an acme screw vs a spur gear drive.
Personally I would use a much lighter brass gear with excess materials removed. It is durable, easy to machine, does not burn, heavily used for gears, does not corrode, and weighs less than an equivalent Steel gear.
But I'm just splitting hairs...an interesting side note, Alcoa recently announced that it's ramping up it Al-Li output.
Quote from: FuseUpHereAlone on 02/08/2012 07:27 pmBut I'm just splitting hairs...an interesting side note, Alcoa recently announced that it's ramping up it Al-Li output. I emailed alcoa, thanks for the lead but they wouldn't sell me any AL-LI