Roll Cage Tie In Suggestions

[Artisan]

So is there a way to counter HAZ?
Could this whole piece be heat treated to X degrees for X time to
settle things down or whatever the process is?

Additionally, because of the ramifications of failure
I will have a professional welder do the job, even though
I own 3 millers. I do not have a TIG machine. My welder
is incredible. I mean his work is just off the chain
beautiful. he has contracts everything from nitro RC expansion chambers
for RC toys, out of Aluminun to 10" Flanges and he welds those
babies up and it it looks like a robot did it.

Greg Sexton, Ontario California. GREAT Welder.

 

[Shield Arc]

What do you think about using 1 3/4" cold rolled round stock instead of that 1 3/4" x .120 wall round tube? Then there will be no need to worry about the HAZ. That .120 wall thickness has had me concerned from the beginning!

Weldment Preheating & Interpass Temperature-- MWSCO Tech Support

 

[Artisan]

What do you think about using 1 3/4" cold rolled round stock instead of that 1 3/4" x .120 wall round tube? Then there will be no need to worry about the HAZ. That .120 wall thickness has had me concerned from the beginning!

Weldment Preheating & Interpass Temperature-- MWSCO Tech Support

A couple three years ago when I bought my tubing bender I did research
on what the average Joe uses to make a cage. Indeed 1-3/4" x .120 wall
was and still is the norm...

I think NASCAR demands .095 wall, but CroMoly

I appreciate ALL the input from everyone, Thank You.

 

[tinman565]

You guys are turning this into a major project...lol. Its basically a garden tractor. He's not gonna jump it. Jeeeezus...lol.

By the way...why dont you just let your welder handle it ? You've praised his ability. Are you trying to impress him ? Now your talking about heat treating this ? LMAO !!!! Still...back to your idea I see. I'm surprised your not making this out of 8" I-beam. Heat treating...lol. Say...why not stop by your local hospital and see if you can make an appointment to get the welds X-RAYED ????

Please post pics of this NASCAR approved cage when its completed sir. Tractor should be worth at LEAST $5000 more when your done (rolling my eyes).

Oh...and just in case your wondering about my experience: My parents owned a machine/fabrication shop (been doing this stuff most of my life). I then went into the Air Force, and worked on the flight line (FMS) as a welder. I worked 8 years as a JOURNEYMAN welder in maintenance at a Dunlop Tire plant. I have worked the past 18 years as the JOURNEYMAN LEAD WELDER/GROUP LEADER in the tool room at General Motors.
Not that any of this matters...but just in case you questioned my credentials.

Should look something like this...by the time your done.

 

[Shield Arc]

Now I was just talking about using the 1 3/4-inch round stock for the short little nipples, not the entire cage.

I had the opportunity to spend a Saturday with some NASCAR weldors at Miller's testing facility in Chicago, those boys forgot more about welding than you and I will ever know!

 

[Artisan]

NASCAR? Interesting... I would like to visit that testing facility.
I wish I could find a Miller TIG machine cheap. I have a Miller Vintage,
a 130 XP, a Spectrum 375 and a ThunderBolt XL. I got the Thunderbolt XL
for 100bux last year, have not used it yet, I will have need someday I am
sure. A MIG Gun is not long and skinny!
Do you have a TIG SA?

 

[swick1]

Don't forget to weld in some crack arrestors! (p. 181) ;-)

http://www.shipstructure.org/pdf/81symp14.pdf

Good luck. I think you'll be fine with just tying the top tubing into that square bar by chamfering the edge from the outside and putting in 3 weld beads, but that's assuming you aren't going to roll it off a cliff.

If you want to be really paranoid, read these papers:
weld unzipping - Google Search

 

[Shield Arc]

Do you have a TIG SA?

Yes, the Miller Dynasty, and Miller 330A/BP in my signature are both Tig machines. I also have a Tig rig I can run off my engine drives if needed. The two Millers are the only machines I have that can do AC aluminum. The 330A/BP was giving me trouble, eating high frequency capacitors like candy! So I retired it to the back of the barn, and bought the Dynasty. One of the NASCAR weldors at Miller's testing facility was running a Dynasty 300, he let me try it, and worked with me for a few hours. I fell in love with the Dynasty, soon as I got home I ordered one.

 

[Artisan]

Ah yes....Crack Arrestors! Maybe I will take pinheadgirls demented
suggestion and do that with "8" I-beam" as she suggests as she would do.

I will read that PDF later just to learn. Gawd I wish my mommie and daddie
would give me a career. I had to earn mine. Must be nice silver spoons and all.
Must be nice ot be so holy that you can ridicule and rip into another mans
aspirations and dreams, right or wrong, the rightous ones, are "idiots".

 

[swick1]

Just hit the ignore button for posters you don't like. I think you are doing a great job and in my opinion the rops is going to be the weak point. Be sure to think before you add too many gussets. Sometimes they can create local stress concentrations in excess of what would happen by just letting it bend. I have a good article on it I'll try to find.