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Z-rail theory and construction

Started by chaparrAL , Nov 22 2014 09:12 PM

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#1 chaparrAL

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Posted 22 November 2014 - 09:12 PM

How are they constructed? How do they work and how are they tuned?

Thanks!


Al Thurman
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#2 Gator Bob

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Posted 22 November 2014 - 09:47 PM

They 'work' because rails are (and act) much longer, lots of bite.

Can be bent from a single wire or soldered at alternating ends of three rails laid parallel.

There will need to be short down stops and/or a full width bite bar soldered to only two of the three rails.

 

Here is a great example of a formed single wire Z-rail chassis. Bryan Warmack is a master at this.


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#3 Tex

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 11:21 AM

If you're not into that much bending, here's a simple way to solder three rails into a Z-rail:

 

1. Lay two piano wire rails side by side.

2. Separate the rails at one end ever-so-slightly while keeping the other ends touching.

3. Solder the two rails together at the ends that are touching.

4. Lay a third rail up against either of the other two rails.

5. Separate that third rail, ever-so-slightly, from the now "middle" rail at the end where the middle rail is already soldered; keep the other end of the third rail touching the middle rail at the other end.

6. Solder the third rail to the middle rail where they are touching

 

You now have an elongated "Z" soldered together, hence the name "Z-rail".


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#4 ropon

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 02:57 PM

My wife bakes with parchment paper, nothing sticks to it. I practice soldered a couple of rails using this to prevent the solder from creeping too far, it worked pretty well.


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#5 Bill from NH

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 05:44 PM

Ron,

 

Aluminum foil, white-out, and ATF (automatic transmission fluid) will stop the flow of solder, too.

 

I don't think my wife would let me get my hands on her parchment paper, but that's a good idea to try. :)


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#6 bluecars

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 08:39 PM

Magic Marker will stop the flow of solder.
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#7 chaparrAL

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 10:15 PM

Big thanks, gentlemen!

 

Here is my first stab at it in the wee scale.

 

10750153_973323356017858_1898617613540316520_o.jpg

 

10733759_973323436017850_1472201923987940533_o.jpg


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Al Thurman
"Everything you love, everything meaningful with depth and history, all passionate authentic experiences will be appropriated, mishandled, watered down, cheapened, repackaged, marketed, and sold to people you hate." Von Dutch [Kenneth R. Howard] 1929-1992
."If there is, in fact, a Heaven and a Hell, all we know for sure is that Hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Pheonix." Dr Hunter S Thompson 1937-2005
"Whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night?" - Jack Kerouac 1927-1969
"Hold my stones". Keith Stone
My link

#8 Bill from NH

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Posted 23 November 2014 - 11:05 PM

Magic Marker will stop the flow of solder.

 

I'll have to remember that; thanks, Red. I used to use black Majic Marker when cutting comms. I thought it acted as a cutting lubricant, but if it didn't, it sure made it easier to see what areas had been cut and what areas needed more cutting. :good:


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#9 bluecars

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 07:13 AM

I don't know about the lubricant but I used it all the time lapping valves instead of Dyecom.
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Robert 'Red' Valantine
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#10 Pablo

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 09:24 AM

Nice build, Al T. very cool :good:

 

I think ropon is on to something with the parchment paper - I think he means he used it between the rails to stop the capillary flow of solder in a precise spot, in which case it would be more accurate than ATF because it flows wherever it wants.


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#11 Bill from NH

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 02:45 PM

A Post-it note folded in half will stop solder flow once. That's how Chicky used to solder in the front axle of a Parma flexi. I would expect parchment paper, like aluminum foil, to withstand higher temperatures  before burning. One brand of parchment paper I found is oven-safe up to 425 F.


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#12 Pablo

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 03:12 PM

A Post-it note folded in half will stop solder flow once.

...and then catch on fire :laugh2:


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#13 Gator Bob

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 04:08 PM

3M polyimide Kapton wave-solder masking tape. :good:

 

But .... never tried it for baking cookies or leaving 'honey-do' notes. :laugh2:

 

BTW: the one piece bent vs. three piece soldered 'will' act differently on the track ... Lateral side load 'might' make the soldered rails rub, that can make a chassis totally unpredictable and leave you :scratch_one-s_head:

The one piece will provide lots of  'side-bite' without any rail binding.  :lol:

 

Happy Zzz ( :lazy: )


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#14 Gator Bob

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 04:21 PM

 

Here is my first stab at it in the wee scale.

 

 

Looks great Al.

A little small but great.

I like how you did the rails -  Double Back U+I=WTM  style.


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#15 MSwiss

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 04:47 PM

Nice job, Al.

I'm pretty sure you're the first guy to have the rail(s) off of the bracket as his middle one.
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Mike Swiss
 
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#16 Bill from NH

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 09:15 PM

...and then catch on fire :laugh2:

 

You gotta move quick! :sarcastic_hand:


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#17 Matt Sheldon

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 06:38 PM

Regardless of soldered Z or 1 piece is there a strength difference with using a Z rail over a conventional rail that would make the design more advantageous? 


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#18 Tex

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 10:21 AM

Using Z-rail construction doesn't address "strength" per se; it's all about flex.


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Richard L. Hofer

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#19 Matt Sheldon

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 10:42 AM

Tex - That was my question. Do you give up any strength with a Z rail configuration?


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#20 MSwiss

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 10:53 AM

IMO, they take a hit better, because they have some give.


I know I took a famous/notorious rider ride into the 90 at Tom Thumb at R4/4 and survived well enough to finish 4th,2-3 laps behind the winner.

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
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Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

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