Re: [Fwd: Re: ATM Spiders and Metal Ribbon for vanes]

[Tom.Stock@gsbsc.gensig.com]

>Tom:
>Why not try the plastic bands first?  The plastic bands I've seen are 
>reinforced with some sort of filaments.  Now recall that this material >is 
obviously as strong as the metal banding formerly used, as it is all 
>tensioned in order to function as originally intended, to bundle >various 
types of materials and/or packages.

I couldn't find a satisfactory way to pull them tight.  It's posbbile, but 
it was too much effort for very little gain, since the thickness of the 
plastic is exactly the same as the metal, and the plastic bands are more 
likely to twist, since they are very flexible.

Also, I was concerned that the plastic bands would cause the secondary to 
vibrate longer when it is bumped.

>5) Straighter - should not twist or kink when under tension 

Not really, they twist more.

But I really did think about it...I might try it some time in the future, 
since I still have a few more spiders to build.  I was thinking of folding 
the ends of each vane over (about 2") and riveting in place.  Then, some 
type of square hook could be put through the loop, and the vanes could be 
pulled tight.

-tom