Author: "Mike Bullock" <mike@...> Time: Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:29 pm PST Link
Hello all,
I just got my empennage kit the other day, so bear with me that I am
a new builder. I was doing my first fluting on the HS-708 rib and I
accidentally bowed a flange outward about 20-30 degrees, with the
crease line along where one of the skin holes is, in about the center
of the flange. I was able to bend it back almost perfect, but I am
worried about two things - 1) Is this unnecesary bend outward, then
back in weaking the flange enough to worry? 2) I am not able to get the
flange between the two flutes to be perfectly flat. It is close, but no
cigar. I have used a mallet and seamers to bring it back to as close as
straight as I can manage. Is this slight waving action going to cause
issues?
Thanks to all that can offer advice.
- Mike B
Author: "Dan Checkoway" <dan@...> Time: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:46 pm PST Link
Don't worry about the bending. In that one spot on that one small part,
it'll be fine. Just get the flange square (literally use a square to
check), and remember!! ...only flute if the holes don't line up! I think
people look at some of the builder logs online and see fluting being done,
and they think they too need to flute. Not necessarily the case.
Back in the day before pre-punched ribs, you fluted before you drilled. Get
the part straight, then drill it. Fluting straightened the rib so a
centerline running down the flange would show through all of the holes.
Now that things are pre-punched, go ahead and try to cleco it in place right
out of the box. If things aren't lining up, then you start thinking about
fluting. Or just lay a straightedge along the rib flange and see if the
holes are aligned. If they line up, leave 'em alone!
As a tech counselor, I've seen several builders who haven't been diligent
enough about flanging and have over-fluted the parts, and it has caused
problems...flanges pulling away from the skin, rivets not setting properly,
etc.
Square the flanges (other than on fuselage bulkheads), flute only where
necessary, re-adjust the flanges if necessary, and now you're good to go
with the drill.
)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D (706 hours)
http://www.rvproject.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Bullock" <mike@...>
To: <RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2005 6:18 PM
Subject: [RV7Yahoo] HS Rib Fluting screwup?
> Hello all,
> I just got my empennage kit the other day, so bear with me that I am
> a new builder. I was doing my first fluting on the HS-708 rib and I
> accidentally bowed a flange outward about 20-30 degrees, with the
> crease line along where one of the skin holes is, in about the center
> of the flange. I was able to bend it back almost perfect, but I am
> worried about two things - 1) Is this unnecesary bend outward, then
> back in weaking the flange enough to worry? 2) I am not able to get the
> flange between the two flutes to be perfectly flat. It is close, but no
> cigar. I have used a mallet and seamers to bring it back to as close as
> straight as I can manage. Is this slight waving action going to cause
> issues?
>
> Thanks to all that can offer advice.
>
> - Mike B
> Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
> www.vansaircraft.net
> Yahoo! Groups Links
Author: "Steven L. Hild" <L-of-Louavul@...> Time: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:52 am PST Link
Mike: Isn't it cool to get a answer directly from the "The Man", Dan!
--- In RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Bullock" <mike@m...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
> I just got my empennage kit the other day, so bear with me that I
am
> a new builder. I was doing my first fluting on the HS-708 rib and I
> accidentally bowed a flange outward about 20-30 degrees, with the
> crease line along where one of the skin holes is, in about the
center
> of the flange. I was able to bend it back almost perfect, but I am
> worried about two things - 1) Is this unnecesary bend outward, then
> back in weaking the flange enough to worry? 2) I am not able to get
the
> flange between the two flutes to be perfectly flat. It is close,
but no
> cigar. I have used a mallet and seamers to bring it back to as
close as
> straight as I can manage. Is this slight waving action going to
cause
> issues?
>
> Thanks to all that can offer advice.
>
> - Mike B
Author: "Bill Swaim" <bill@...> Time: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:53 am PST Link
Mike
This will cause no problem & you will get the feel of the fluting squaring process very soon!
The fluting allows the web of the rib to be flat and also allows the flange to be at 90 deg to the web (note for the future that not all flanges are square to the web, but MUST be parallel to the skin). I cut a small 1 x 2 wood block (90 deg) and screwed it down to my bench. Do some initial seaming to 90 deg & then flute till web is flat on the bench. Slide the flange up against the block & work the flange to 90 all the way around using the block as reference. Very fast.
Please note early on in your project, that the skins are flat........If the rib flanges are not initially at 90 deg to the web (parallel to the skin) you will fight it & see it in the end result, especially at the end ribs!. Use any method possible to speed up your prep work (band saw, scotchbrite wheels - large & small, belt disk sander), but never sacrifice the final quality of each individual step. Also, I found that a file & diamond sanding pad make quick work of skin edges, but you will develop your own methods.
As always, just my .02 worth. Hope it helps!
Have fun & Fly Safe!
Bill Swaim
Slow Build Fuselage
N615KS Reserved
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Bullock
To: RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2005 8:18 PM
Subject: [RV7Yahoo] HS Rib Fluting screwup?
Hello all,
I just got my empennage kit the other day, so bear with me that I am
a new builder. I was doing my first fluting on the HS-708 rib and I
accidentally bowed a flange outward about 20-30 degrees, with the
crease line along where one of the skin holes is, in about the center
of the flange. I was able to bend it back almost perfect, but I am
worried about two things - 1) Is this unnecesary bend outward, then
back in weaking the flange enough to worry? 2) I am not able to get the
flange between the two flutes to be perfectly flat. It is close, but no
cigar. I have used a mallet and seamers to bring it back to as close as
straight as I can manage. Is this slight waving action going to cause
issues?
Thanks to all that can offer advice.
- Mike B
Van's Air Force - World Wide Wing
www.vansaircraft.net
Yahoo! Groups Links
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Author: "Mike Bullock" <mike@...> Time: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:47 pm PST Link
Steve-
I gave Dan my RV finders fee, so I expect him to quickly respond to
my questions! All joking aside, it is cool to get answers directly
from "The Man".
Mike B
http://www.rvplane.com
--- In RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com, "Steven L. Hild" <L-of-Louavul@m...>
wrote:
>
> Mike: Isn't it cool to get a answer directly from the "The Man",
Dan!
> --- In RV7and7A@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Bullock" <mike@m...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello all,
> > I just got my empennage kit the other day, so bear with me that
I
> am
> > a new builder. I was doing my first fluting on the HS-708 rib and
I
> > accidentally bowed a flange outward about 20-30 degrees, with the
> > crease line along where one of the skin holes is, in about the
> center
> > of the flange. I was able to bend it back almost perfect, but I
am
> > worried about two things - 1) Is this unnecesary bend outward,
then
> > back in weaking the flange enough to worry? 2) I am not able to
get
> the
> > flange between the two flutes to be perfectly flat. It is close,
> but no
> > cigar. I have used a mallet and seamers to bring it back to as
> close as
> > straight as I can manage. Is this slight waving action going to
> cause
> > issues?
> >
> > Thanks to all that can offer advice.
> >
> > - Mike B