April, 2009

Holding it all together

27 April, 2009

I have struggled on how I'm going to attach the units to each other. I'm used to wood, which is a lot tougher than foamboard. One idea I'm exploring is the use of plastic tubes which will telescope inside each other and a threaded rod with nut holding it together.

It took a lot of searching around until I found a company in Sussex which supplies all kinds of plactic bits to manufacturers. They sent me a sample which is going to do the trick. Problem is the expense. Even with discounts I'm looking at nearly 60 UKP. Maybe they will sell me just one threaded nylon rod and 20 nuts. That's got to work out less than what it is now.

The alternative is to buy the stuff wholesale, cut it up into usable bits and sell it off (not really what I had in mind to do).

How will it work?

I found some electrical PVC conduit, not too far from where I live, quite cheaply. Two 110 inch tubes (one 25mm the other 20mm) cost a couple of UK Pounds. The 20mm fits inside the 25mm with a little bit of slop that can be taken up with PVC tape. They telescope togeher easily with a bit of graphite on the tape. The 20mm will have a short length of 16mm threaded rod (fits perfectly inside the tube) set into one end and a nut will hold it together. I'll set the rod in with pins and epoxy. I'll have to figure out some way of fixing the tubes to the foamboard.

I'm going to have to redo my top units with better vertical support and bracing, as the first attempt is a bit too messy for my liking.