Re: ATM Can one use 0.035" wall-thickness truss tubing?

[Lynne and Larry Manuel <lynneandlarry.manuel@sympatico.ca>]

Carl Woebcke wrote:

> Hello out there,
>
>       Anybody have any experience OR educated guesses with 0.035" wall
> thickness, 1.0" OD Aluminum (6061-T6) tubing?  How will this thin a wall
> behave over 5' lengths on an 18" ultra-light Dob?  Haven't yet
> calculated the total weight on the upper end, but I think it'll max out
> at around 12-15 lbs.
>
>

Opinion only:

I think it will be sturdy enough for observing, but awfully fragile for
impacts - they will be easily bent.

If you want to save weight, why not make some 1 inch square styrofoam strips
[or balsa wood] and epoxy on 1 inch wide graphite tape - a couple of layers
- on each side?  Such tape is widely available from WEST system.

Larry.


--
lynneandlarry.manuel@sympatico.ca
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada