Trucks Fabrication

Welding Techniques, Theory, Machines and Questions.

Moderator: Harold_V

Post Reply
Russ Hanscom
Posts: 1955
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Farmington, NM

Trucks Fabrication

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Here are a few more shots of parts for a D&RG narrow gauge cast steel frame truck which we are converting to weldments. The bits are mostly 1/2" thick plate, which has been CNC cut and bent. For the most part, the fit-up has been decent and only a little trimming has been needed. We try to work with sub assemblies as long as possible to control handling weight. A completed flying bolster weighs in the 800# range and the central truck frame will be 1200#+

E6010 and MIG are being used for tacking and E7024 and MIG are being used for joint fill-up.
Attachments
DSC03136.JPG
DSC03137.JPG
DSC03138.JPG
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Trucks Fabrication

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Interesting project! How do you control warping and distortion?

Glenn B.
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
tomc
Posts: 375
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:04 pm
Location: Sw of the Windy City

Re: Trucks Fabrication

Post by tomc »

weld slow

Tom C.
tom_at_srclry_com
A student of the Southend RGS!
Russ Hanscom
Posts: 1955
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Farmington, NM

Re: Trucks Fabrication

Post by Russ Hanscom »

There are several ways to control distortion. I do half a rod here, half a rod there, to equalize the heating. Being aware of what welding one area is going to do helps plan preventative measures. Sometimes we use a stongback or clamps and wedges to preload against distortion. After a few parts, the process of control is fairly obvious.
User avatar
johnpenn74
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 12:54 pm
Location: Waiting for next assignment!

Re: Trucks Fabrication

Post by johnpenn74 »

What preheating techniques can anyone recommend?

JP
John Pennington

Logging meets that actually move logs

Project
2 Mich-Cal Shays
Allen 4-4-0 Narrow Gauge Conversion
Two Reading A5a Camelback 0-4-0
USRA 0-6-0
Clishay
4 Western Wheeled Scraper NG Dump Cars
N&W 4-8-2
ICM 2-10-2
4 Modern Stake Cars
L&N Caboose
4 Big Four Conversion Gondolas

Like I'm actually gonna build all this stuff :-P
Russ Hanscom
Posts: 1955
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Farmington, NM

Re: Trucks Fabrication

Post by Russ Hanscom »

For common steels like A36, no preheat is required as long as the metal is at room temperature and dry. If is it frosty or damp, preheat a bit - not much required. If you are having problems with the root weld cracking then a bit of preheat will help.

If you are working with higher carbon steels then preheat is recommended or required.

A welding specialist once told me - when in doubt preheat.

No preheat was used on the project I was sharing and we are using standard hot rolled stock to 1"+ thickness.
Post Reply