Chassis weight comparison

[59burst]

There were no significant differences between chassis' weight
have a look









Graphite rules!


Milled chassis dosen't loose weight much, but the V shape nose plate does.

[Mr. ED]

LOL the first 2 are true marketing-killers.
Good post

[Halgar]

Pardon the silly question, but why is a 6 gram difference on the nose plate significant, but 7 to 10 grams between the top two chassis and the next two isn't?

[RichieRich]

Pardon the silly question, but why is a 6 gram difference on the nose plate significant, but 7 to 10 grams between the top two chassis and the next two isn't?

It's about percentages. The milled chassis isn't even 2% lighter while the "V" nose plate is nearly 17% lighter.

[Halgar]

Pardon the silly question, but why is a 6 gram difference on the nose plate significant, but 7 to 10 grams between the top two chassis and the next two isn't?

It's about percentages. The milled chassis isn't even 2% lighter while the "V" nose plate is nearly 17% lighter.

Ok, but aren't the effects of weight cumulative, making every gram saved an improvement?

[RichieRich]

Pardon the silly question, but why is a 6 gram difference on the nose plate significant, but 7 to 10 grams between the top two chassis and the next two isn't?

It's about percentages. The milled chassis isn't even 2% lighter while the "V" nose plate is nearly 17% lighter.

Ok, but aren't the effects of weight cumulative, making every gram saved an improvement?

Right! But, if you had to pick and if you're on a budget, saving 2% with a worlds chassis doesn't maximize value.

[Halgar]

Right! But, if you had to pick and if you're on a budget, saving 2% with a worlds chassis doesn't maximize value.

Got it! Hence the reasoning behind Swiss cheesing the chassis.

[aeiou]

Thanks for the interesting post, gatlin.

What surprises me is the difference between the black and gold chassis. I can understand why the powder coated green chassis is heavier than the anodized ones, but I wonder why the gold is heavier/black lighter?

[Brandon G]

Nice post.

Just goes to show what little the BS "milling" really did for the weight. Obviously just something to claim on the latest and greatest version.

I imagine the black one is lighter because lighter/thinner/cheaper aluminum was used. Corporations have a way of cutting costs in ways you wouldn't imagine.

I'm sure I probably pissed a few off with that but oh well.

I've had a few beers in me too.

[mrlexan]

Don't forget time in the anodizing tank will effect it as well. You are in essence electronically transferring metal to another metal (before anyone throws it at me, I know aluminum isn't a metal, but you know what I mean ). Back at Roush anything automotive that was anodized, we had to specificy the thickness on the component drawings.... I can remember slip fit parts not fitting correctly due to too much material build up.

[ROH73]

Nice post.

Just goes to show what little the BS "milling" really did for the weight. Obviously just something to claim on the latest and greatest version.

I imagine the black one is lighter because lighter/thinner/cheaper aluminum was used. Corporations have a way of cutting costs in ways you wouldn't imagine.

I'm sure I probably pissed a few off with that but oh well.

I've had a few beers in me too.

I've read somewhere (probably an old RCCA) that the reason for the milled pockets on the sides was to help direct dirt out of the chassis through the slightly larger holes. The 'H' pocket is probably just for show. The World's chassis main claim to fame is its hard anodizing, which makes it stiffer.

The weight differences between the black and gold chassis could be deliberate, but not to cut costs; 6000 series aluminum alloy sheets pretty much all cost the same. Perhaps Associated spec'd a different grade of aluminum to simply lighten things up a bit and increase performance.

But, in the end, to put things in perspective, 7 grams is a whopping 0.25 oz .

Robert

[markt311]

now weigh a swiss cheese chassis and discuss the weight savings versus bending the chassis in half if you case a jump theory

Mark

[59burst]

Thanks for the interesting post, gatlin.

What surprises me is the difference between the black and gold chassis. I can understand why the powder coated green chassis is heavier than the anodized ones, but I wonder why the gold is heavier/black lighter?

Good point, Paul

my early RC10's chassis has stamped "A" on it. my team car has "B".
and, these new gold and milled ones have "C".

I got same question when I finished this silly weighting job. and, found A,B,C on the chassis.
so, I tried digital caliper. it's 6 bucks cheap and nasty caliper. and it's a still caliper.
the thickness of early gold and black chassis was 1.58 to 1.62mm(0.062")
and, 1.60 to 1.66mm(0.064") on milled and the new gold chassis.
I don't think I got correct value. these chassis made by some pressing and cutting processes. so, the values couldn't be regualr.

anyway, the milling job did work somehow.
the milled chassis is "slightly thicker" than old black one. and, "slightly lighter" than old one.
if these milled and late gold chassis have "C" were made out of same process. milling job saved 10 grams.
but it's TINY differece. I'll take graphite chassis if I need light one.

my conclusion is "Milled chassis looks cool."

[59burst]

Don't forget time in the anodizing tank will effect it as well. You are in essence electronically transferring metal to another metal (before anyone throws it at me, I know aluminum isn't a metal, but you know what I mean ). Back at Roush anything automotive that was anodized, we had to specificy the thickness on the component drawings.... I can remember slip fit parts not fitting correctly due to too much material build up.

Yes, absolutely right.

[Brandon G]

Nice post.

Just goes to show what little the BS "milling" really did for the weight. Obviously just something to claim on the latest and greatest version.

I imagine the black one is lighter because lighter/thinner/cheaper aluminum was used. Corporations have a way of cutting costs in ways you wouldn't imagine.

I'm sure I probably pissed a few off with that but oh well.

I've had a few beers in me too.

I've read somewhere (probably an old RCCA) that the reason for the milled pockets on the sides was to help direct dirt out of the chassis through the slightly larger holes. The 'H' pocket is probably just for show. The World's chassis main claim to fame is its hard anodizing, which makes it stiffer.

The weight differences between the black and gold chassis could be deliberate, but not to cut costs; 6000 series aluminum alloy sheets pretty much all cost the same. Perhaps Associated spec'd a different grade of aluminum to simply lighten things up a bit and increase performance.

But, in the end, to put things in perspective, 7 grams is a whopping 0.25 oz .

Robert

Yeah, I forgot about the hard anodizing..

I never understood the slots getting rid of dirt easier. ??