Titanium

Rhys · Post by **Rhys** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:20 am

Is it worth the hassle? What's it like to work with?

I'm looking at getting some 1.6mm for a new spinning bar, and some thinner stuff (0.6mm) for general armour. Not the whole body, but skirts and scoops. Will I come across any problems?

Will I have any problems drilling it? Will it need special bits? Also what's it like for cutting? Can it be easily hacksawed/jigsawed? And what about bending? is it possible?

Sorry about my general ignorance on this matter, but I realy don't know.

peterwaller · Post by **peterwaller** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:28 am

I have only used the 1mm titanium from SozBots. It hacksaws reasonably well with a good blade. Drilling is ok with a sharp drill but if you try to drill too fast it gets hot and the drills get blunt quickly. Bending is tricky you need to bend round a radius edge of at least a couple of mm. Attempting to do a sharp bend will result in the titanium breaking along the bend. Filling and grinding are both OK.

Post by **BeligerAnt** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:24 pm

I got some thin titanium sheet (thanks Simon!) and wondered how to cut it....

Scissors! I kid you not! An old pair of "kitchen" scissors are great for cutting thin sheet metal. Alternatively, use tin snips...

BTW I think Peter meant "filing" rather than "filling" above (darned L key!)

Rhys · Post by **Rhys** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:39 pm

what kind of thickness was that? If scissors are going to be an option, this could be easier than I expected!

Simon Windisch · Post by **Simon Windisch** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:04 pm

The sheet I bought was from Titanium Joe http://www.titaniumjoe.com/6al4v%20sheet.htm and is 0.016 in thick - 0.4mm. The postage was an absolute nightmare, something like ?40.

I use tin snips to cut it.

I would say it's as resistant to damage as 2 or 3mm polycarbonate, and very light. It's also very stiff, and after breaking a couple of drill bits on it I invested in some titanium drill bits.

When you buy it it's quite dull, but with a bit of polish you can make it shine.

Simon

BTW, MUTR sells titanium at a reasonable price - ?35 for a 25 x 25cm sheet. I don't know how thick it is though.http://www.mutr.co.uk/prodDetail.aspx?prodID=625

peterwaller · Post by **peterwaller** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:13 pm

I have emailed them and it is apparently 0.5mm thick. I have ordered some plus a few other interesting items I will let you know what it is like.

Raizor · Post by **Raizor** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:43 pm

Not strictly titanium, but i am proposing to make my chassis from 2mm aluminium (simular to what peter waller uses on dominant and used (maybe still does) on combatant). I assume this will be allowed as it will be a chassis. However it may also be classed as armour (just like dominant or combatant)

Can I have a judgement here.

Raizor · Post by **Raizor** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:42 am

Sorry for double post but anyone have an idea here?

Bigshot team capt · Post by **Bigshot team capt** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:45 pm

As long as your whole robot isn't made from the single sheet, I personally see no problem. My understanding is that you have to have at least two separate sections, but chassis does count as armour, so follow same rules.

Wait for somebody else to confirm this though-I'm no expert

Raizor · Post by **Raizor** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:42 pm

The thing is in rules 2.3 iirc we removed the "Monocorque is defined as armour" rule but it was put back in, in rules 3. Since my chassis is 2mm and it can technically be defined as armour could this then be said to be illegal.

I could of course get around this on a technicality buy putting some ridiculously thin plastic around the outside to act as "armour" but thats not really within the spirit of the rules. I think that since dominant etc have used it I should be allowed but dont want to build it and then only be able to run at roaming robots events.