Question for the knowledgeable metal workers

[99LRDblaster]

Now I realize engine blocks and other parts are cast out of sand dies and molten material as a means to produce them.

My question is would it be possible to make a complex die...not sand, with a die held it in the middle to create a tubular frame. For example.......could you pore chromoly into a die then break the die off and then yanking out the middle die to keep it a tubular chassis? Essentially, a poured and weld free chassis. Would this ultimately be stronger with no welds?

 

[Awk08]

dude, you create a thread for every off the wall idea you have,
you've gotta be smokin sumthin !!!!!

 

[N8tsNastyBlasty]

im smokin sumthn...lol... like 4 strokes. i think they would used a wax positive mold and the wax would melt away in the cavity to be filled with molten metal but im far from knowledgeable.

 

[4cfed]

can am already made a weldless frame... all bolted together... from what i hear there plenty strong

 

[motoman9911]

Would that even be possible? If it would there would have to be entry points all over for the molten metal to be injected into the die and air exits too. I've done some casting, but it was simple stuff.
This would also be very expensive. The molten metal just couldn't be poured into the die, it would have to be forced in under high pressure due to how small of an area it would be occupying.

You also wouldn't want a one piece frame. If a section gets deformed in some manner the whole frame needs replaced. Having sections that bolt together would be better just because of the cost to replace.

 

[99LRDblaster]

im smokin sumthn...lol... like 4 strokes. i think they would used a wax positive mold and the wax would melt away in the cavity to be filled with molten metal but im far from knowledgeable.

Well there is always something to think of in that manner. While a difficult part of the process, I'm mostly interested if poured chromoly:

1: Could fill a thin die without any imperfections or blank spots in the tube...such as would it need to be pressurized, air problems?, couldn't forge a piece that large and diverse?
2: Could a 1 piece frame have benefits or problems compared to traditional welded frames

I figure if an engine block, heads, etc. can be made this way with intricate details, then a tubular chassis could as well out of chromoly...with thinner walls...since to my knowledge(could be wrong), chromoly weighs about the same as mild steel, but is stronger therefore weighs less because less material is used. Other than being a major pain in the ass, I was just interested in the feasibility and possibility of it being possible to do.

 

[99LRDblaster]

can am already made a weldless frame... all bolted together... from what i hear there plenty strong

Yea my friend's DS450 has the luck bolt aluminium frame. That somewhat generated the interest in an all chromoly frame or other very strong aluminium frame such as 7005?.......not sure if that is lighter or strong enough, but just throwing it out there.

 

[4cfed]

a aluminum frame that bolts together would be better, lighter and just as strong... no need for a solish one piece frame, no benifit over a traditional welded frame

 

[stabor1122]

Solid tube frame would probably be WAY too stiff anyway and ride like crap. Need some flex in the frame like the hollow tubes that they are made of now. Maybe I am wrong but I remember when Honda first came out with their aluminum famed CRs alot of people complained about how stiff they were and that they rode like trash.

 

[99LRDblaster]

Solid tube frame would probably be WAY too stiff anyway and ride like crap. Need some flex in the frame like the hollow tubes that they are made of now. Maybe I am wrong but I remember when Honda first came out with their aluminum famed CRs alot of people complained about how stiff they were and that they rode like trash.

It would still be a hollow tube......there would be a removable die placed in the center. Yes.......I realize the problems with that idea, but I'm mostly interested in the the ability of the metal to be poured and constructing a frame.

 

[stabor1122]

Cool. Sounds complicated and EXPENSIVE. lol

 

[blasterdemon7]

Thread jack. For the last week I've been thinking about a Titanium Blaster frame, a arms and swinger. I know it would be big bucks to do it but would be cool. The cost would be about $8000 to do all three.

 

[99LRDblaster]

Thread jack. For the last week I've been thinking about a Titanium Blaster frame, a arms and swinger. I know it would be big bucks to do it but would be cool. The cost would be about $8000 to do all three.

For 8 grand, I'd give carbon fiber a shot. It's been done before. They make carbon fiber axles too.