Xrain
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2013
- Messages
- 282
- Reaction score
- 30
Right.... But if I'm using two alternative air-tight methods, why would they act differently? You see where Im getting at? The BP itself will be in the same operating conditions in all three devices.
Okay so Ive received more quotes from Nextline and, we have ourselves a new problem. Nextline was able to quote me a fantastic IST price, but a less than good fin set price. The fins, needing to be 6Al-4v will be quite expensive indeed, but NextLine has me quoted at $1330 PER FIN. ($5320 for the set of four) . This is in addition to the $1770 quote for the fin can sleeve.
I have decided at this point to ditch the thermal methods of joining the fins as it would barely be viable with parts coming from multiple sources. I will just JB weld them together. They will still have dowel pins to lock them in place.
So, with that being said, does anyone know good shops that can not only supply, but MACHINE titanium? Does TitaniumJoe do mill work?
With a $5000 set of fins, the project comes out at $20,000 neatly rounded from its raw subtotal. My original goal was $15,000 or less....
Again, I wont skimp on materials just to cut cost. It will be done right, not cheap. But the higher the cost, the more people would have to contribute to make it achievable, so lowering costs is indeed desirable where possible.
Now... to make that parachute call..
**UPDATED**
Per an email back to NextLine they mentioned this:
" With regards to the fin, for qty 4 you will see a lower piece price from quantity 1, as the material and setup costs begin to be amortized somewhat. I'll also see what I can do on Monday as far as finding a better material source for the titanium sheet. Hopefully we can meet your price needs. "
So I will see where I can go with that.... Lets hope we can maybe make it under $2K for all four... $17,000 is still a bit high, though.
I also just spoke with Ky about parachutes, and he seemed interested in helping me find a chute suitable. We will speak again on Monday and I will know more at that time.
Told you those fins were going to cost an arm and a leg. :wink:
I do not think you are going to find a shop willing to do it for significantly less than what nextline quoted you. I actually think that was a very good price. You have to remember they cant plan to make only one, since it is pretty probable that one or two will be scrap with the complicated geometry. If it were me and I was trying to save money, I'd simplify the shape and cut the bevels with a belt sander myself. perhaps have a shop just cut the basic outline out.
Also if you are just going to jb weld the fins together why use titanium. You are not going to get as many of the benefits over aluminum.
If you are looking for a high speed chute para-tech parachutes makes parachutes for this application. They are not cheap however and I am not completely sure he makes parachutes that small. The parachute I know he made was for something closer to the size of csxt.
https://www.paratech-parachutes.com/