I have a 120mm (4 3/4'') computer case fan with seven blades about 1''
wide x 1.5'' long that have the same pitch as a 9x6 prop or thereabouts,
it would be quite simple to rip out the little motor and fit a 480 but
not sure of the results, anybody out there tried using modified Computer
case fans ? they are all made of engineering plastics and are really
strong and you can buy 120mm fans on eBay for as little as $2,
regards, Terry
Ron van Sommeren - 16 Feb 2007 14:02 GMT
Goedendag Terence,
Tread carefully, computerfans or not designed for DF speeds.
Prettig weekend ;-) Ron van Sommeren
14th.int. electric fly-in, Aug.26, Nijmegen, Netherlands
http://home.hetnet.nl/~ronvans/
> I have a 120mm (4 3/4'') computer case fan with seven blades about 1''
> wide x 1.5'' long that have the same pitch as a 9x6 prop or thereabouts,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> regards, Terry
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Terence Lynock (MSW) - 16 Feb 2007 17:34 GMT
The message <45d5b978$0$2019$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl>
from "Ron van Sommeren" <ron.van.sommeren_curly_thingy_hetnet.nl>
contains these words:
> Tread carefully, computerfans or not designed for DF speeds.
Hi Ron,
they tend to be made from high impact engineering
plastics these days so may stand up to it OK but may need fine balancing
as most of them only run at 1500 rpm or thereabouts, not so bad as it
will be in a duct with extension tube on the back and if it goes bang
then tough luck, got a nice ittle plan for a Vampire free with RCM&E
this week March issue) that should have a i/c engine in the nose which
makes it look nothing like a Vamp so was thinking on converting it to
ducted fan.
Many years ago when I was with Cosford Aerospace Museum Society I tried
to find spares to rebuild a Venom FB4 that had been sent back from Kai
Tak as deck cargo and was in a pitiful state when it arrived, serial was
WR539 as I recall and I saw this serial again a while back on a model of
a Venom in one of the magazines.
During my search for spars I approached the Swiss Air Force who still
flew them and we ended up giving 539 away and swapping a Bristol
Hercules radial for one of the Swiss AF Venoms which is now at Cosford,
we were very pleased to get a flyable Venom for the collection but I
wasnt aso happy to get a £4000 bill for flying it in to Greenham Common,
regards, Terry
byrocat - 16 Feb 2007 20:01 GMT
Terry, running at 1200 rpm is not a problem, but running at 10-30
times that speed is, balancing aside. The plastic may be strong but it
may be too elastic and stretch or break.
DF work (either slimer, electric or even turbine) needs solid
engineering and materials science to make it work. Unless you're
qualified in that field, I'd stick with the commercial products that
have been tested and do work.
Most EDF's are running at 20-30,000 rpm, so you're talking serious
levels of inertia.
Terence Lynock (MSW) - 17 Feb 2007 02:14 GMT
from "byrocat" <strikemaster2000@yahoo.ca> contains these words:
> Unless you're
> qualified in that field, I'd stick with the commercial products that
> have been tested and do work.
Must admit looking at the cost of a ducted fan unit it hardly seems
worth the effort of building your own, just wondered if anyone had tried
it on an aircraft as I know a couple of people who have built r/c
airboats using computer fans but pushing something over water as against
getting it into the air and keeping it there is a different matter.
> Most EDF's are running at 20-30,000 rpm, so you're talking serious
> levels of inertia.
I have hit these things with a hammer and they didnt break but have no
idea what pitch the blades are at or even if the through-put of air
would be sufficient, it may be a case of 'light blue touch-paper - stand
well back' and see what happens,
regards,
Terry
Hal - 16 Feb 2007 21:34 GMT
On Feb 13, 5:00 pm, Terence Lynock (MSW)
<modelshipwrig...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
> I have a 120mm (4 3/4'') computer case fan with seven blades about 1''
> wide x 1.5'' long that have the same pitch as a 9x6 prop or thereabouts,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> regards, Terry
Years ago I took the center part of a computer power supply fan and
mounted it on an 11 turn triple motor I had lying around and created
an air-powered RC10. It sure sounded mean, and I never had a problem
with the fan blowing up. Feeling pretty good about how well it went, I
made a second one and apparently the plastic had a flaw in it because
it DID blow up, and it embedded plastic blades into the ceiling,
drywall, etc. Very nasty. And it was way out of balance after it threw
a few blades off ;-)
If you do it, best advice is to Be Careful.
Chris
Terence Lynock (MSW) - 17 Feb 2007 02:19 GMT
The message <1171661676.132195.218300@s48g2000cws.googlegroups.com>
from "Hal" <halatos@gmail.com> contains these words:
> If you do it, best advice is to Be Careful.
> Chris
Hi Chris,
had these fingers a long time and found them quite
useful, also I am ugly enough without altering my features so care will
be Nr 1 priority as with any experimenting, one of the fans I have
laying around I tried twisting a blade off but only managed to cut
myself on the edge so they are pretty tough but as already mentioned
elasticity is something else and if the blades 'grow' in the duct it
could be a case of molten plastic flying around,
regards, Terry