Re: [ATM] Wooden Truss "Tubes"

[Guy Brandenburg <gfbrandenburg@yahoo.com>]

Why not just use a SINGLE wooden or even cardboard
truss tube, say 18 to 26 inch diameter, hollow inside,
and only about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick? 

Oh, you say that's already been tried? Darn. I should
have remembered that.

Guy

--- Jay Kirkland <jaykirk2@compusmart.ab.ca> wrote:
>     I haven't heard of anyone doing this before, so
> I'm assuming the 
> answer is no. But just in case: has anyone built a
> 16 - 24" scope using 
> wooden truss tubes?
>     Years ago I read somewhere that the strongest
> structural shape was a 
> hollow wooden beam. By my quick calculations, a 2"
> square beam made of 
> 1/4" baltic birch and perforated with aircraft-type
> lightening holes 
> that reduced it's weight about 1/2 would weigh less
> than  a 1 1/2" OD  
> .049 aluminum tube. Or it could be 3/8" thick  on 2
> sides and 1/8 on the 
> other two, for better glue surfaces. It would still
> be tremendously 
> stiff, vibration free?, and being square or
> rectangular attaching to 
> mirror boxes, etc, would be much simpler.
>     I'm thinking about trying this but before I
> re-invent the wheel, 
> does anyone know of anyone who has already done
> this, and if so with 
> what success?
>     Jay
>    
> 
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> 

Guy  Brandenburg
Washington, DC
My home page:
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfbranden/GFB_Home_Page.html
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