Aluminum spinning services?
Adam Munich, Tue Jan 22 2019, 08:24PMHi forum,
I am looking for aluminum spinners who can handle very large items (1 meter or so).
Anyone have any recommendations?
Cheers,
Adam
Re: Aluminum spinning services?
MRMILSTAR, Wed Jan 23 2019, 04:39AM
Even though you didn't say, I am assuming that you are seeking a large toroid. About 15 years ago, this company (O.W. Landergren) made a batch of large aluminum toroids custom-ordered by the TCML (Tesla Club Mailing List) in a group purchase for tesla coil use. I bought one (30" x 9") and they are beautiful. You can't even see the seam. It won't be cheap though. Back then, I believe I paid $275 for mine. That was for a batch quantity of about 20 as I recall.
If you are seeking a toroid, and 30" x 9" is big enough, you might want to contact them and find out if they still have the forms left over from the TCML group purchase from back then. This may lower the cost because they wouldn't have to make a new form.
Another consideration about spun toroids is weight. I haven't weighed mine but I would estimate that my 30" x 9" weighs at least 20 pounds. The weight of a toroid increases linearly with the major radius but increases according to r**2 for the minor radius. In short, a large spun aluminum toroid can be very heavy and unmanageable. My 30" x 9" spun toroid is about as heavy as I would want a toroid to be because I frequently remove it from a 6' high tesla coil.
Even though nothing beats the appearance of a spun aluminum toroid, if you want a really large toroid I would consider making it from wire mesh and ribs to keep the weight down.
MRMILSTAR, Wed Jan 23 2019, 04:39AM
Even though you didn't say, I am assuming that you are seeking a large toroid. About 15 years ago, this company (O.W. Landergren) made a batch of large aluminum toroids custom-ordered by the TCML (Tesla Club Mailing List) in a group purchase for tesla coil use. I bought one (30" x 9") and they are beautiful. You can't even see the seam. It won't be cheap though. Back then, I believe I paid $275 for mine. That was for a batch quantity of about 20 as I recall.
If you are seeking a toroid, and 30" x 9" is big enough, you might want to contact them and find out if they still have the forms left over from the TCML group purchase from back then. This may lower the cost because they wouldn't have to make a new form.
Another consideration about spun toroids is weight. I haven't weighed mine but I would estimate that my 30" x 9" weighs at least 20 pounds. The weight of a toroid increases linearly with the major radius but increases according to r**2 for the minor radius. In short, a large spun aluminum toroid can be very heavy and unmanageable. My 30" x 9" spun toroid is about as heavy as I would want a toroid to be because I frequently remove it from a 6' high tesla coil.
Even though nothing beats the appearance of a spun aluminum toroid, if you want a really large toroid I would consider making it from wire mesh and ribs to keep the weight down.
Re: Aluminum spinning services?
Patrick, Sat Jan 26 2019, 03:12AM
Crazy thought here from a casual TC'er. Not as experieced as you all.
but it seems a conductive composite might be posible. ultra-thin aluminum just thick enough to not arc weld a hole through when a streamer pops out.
or stainless tool wrap sheet, i have some thats 0.002"
im just thinking of your cosmetic desires, thats the hard part.
Patrick, Sat Jan 26 2019, 03:12AM
Crazy thought here from a casual TC'er. Not as experieced as you all.
but it seems a conductive composite might be posible. ultra-thin aluminum just thick enough to not arc weld a hole through when a streamer pops out.
or stainless tool wrap sheet, i have some thats 0.002"
im just thinking of your cosmetic desires, thats the hard part.
Re: Aluminum spinning services?
Kingpin, Sat Feb 02 2019, 09:18PM
Information Unlimited has big toroids. They are expensive! $600-$700
Kingpin, Sat Feb 02 2019, 09:18PM
Information Unlimited has big toroids. They are expensive! $600-$700
Re: Aluminum spinning services?
Adam Munich, Fri Feb 22 2019, 06:29PM
Thank you for the pointers!
I am actually looking for hemispheres, for the tank-ends of a rocket propellant container. Weight is an issue, but wire mesh certainly won't hold any O2
Adam Munich, Fri Feb 22 2019, 06:29PM
Thank you for the pointers!
I am actually looking for hemispheres, for the tank-ends of a rocket propellant container. Weight is an issue, but wire mesh certainly won't hold any O2
Re: Aluminum spinning services?
MRMILSTAR, Sat Feb 23 2019, 04:14AM
It would have been helpful if you had originally specified your application. Since you posted this under the tesla coil group, the obvious assumption was a toroid. I would still check with the O.W. Landergren company. It is a full-service metal spinner. I have one of their toroids and the quality is excellent.
MRMILSTAR, Sat Feb 23 2019, 04:14AM
It would have been helpful if you had originally specified your application. Since you posted this under the tesla coil group, the obvious assumption was a toroid. I would still check with the O.W. Landergren company. It is a full-service metal spinner. I have one of their toroids and the quality is excellent.
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