Northern Lite Traveler

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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby CoffeeDude » Wed Dec 23, 2020 5:32 pm

Please help!
I cannot find the "1/8" x 1" angle cleats" you used to rivet the aluminum frames.
I searched on the websites you recommended, https://www.hansonrivet.com and www.trimlok.com, but cannot locate them.
Do you custom build the angle cleats?
Thanks

FYI:
I started building my first aluminum foamie trailer, which was inspired by your incredible engineering skills, thanks again for your help!
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:57 pm

You're welcome, Joshua.

Hope that you can use some of the ideas & methods.

Fred :beer:
Last edited by alaska teardrop on Sun Dec 27, 2020 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:08 pm

Hi Coffedude,

The cleats are made from 1x1x1/8 angle using a drill press w/fence & cut to one inch length with a horizontal band saw.

Pictures required of your new trailer. :pictures:

Fred :thumbsup:
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby CoffeeDude » Wed Dec 30, 2020 6:00 pm

Hi Fred,

I attached some photos of my 6' x 9' steel trailer chassis build, which has plywood flooring.

I originally started riveting the aluminum frame with rivets I found on amazon, only
to realize the amazon rivets are the wrong size, so the corner bracket is loose.

I just purchased rivets from Hanson supply, they arrived in the mail today, and I will proceed to use Hanson rivets only!

I have a rivet grip range, and will purchase aluminum square tubing, and cut the squares as you suggested.
I will make sure the aluminum cleats, and frame thickness matches the rivet grip range.

Thanks for the tip on making angled cleats!
(The cleats are made from 1x1x1/8 angle using a drill press w/fence & cut to one inch length with a horizontal band saw.)



Hanson supply Rivet dimensions:
blind aluminum rivet closed end with steel mandrel
rivet size: 3/16 "
rivet grip: .313 - .375

Aluminum square tubing dimensions:
16 gage (1/16") x 1" x 1" 6063-T52 square tubing


Thanks for your expert advice, I will try to upload photos soon!
Sandro
Attachments
IMG_2363.JPG
IMG_2363.JPG (32.86 KiB) Viewed 5034 times
IMG_2362.JPG
loose rivet
IMG_2362.JPG (34.63 KiB) Viewed 5034 times
IMG_2364.JPG
My new hanson rivets
IMG_2364.JPG (52.04 KiB) Viewed 5034 times
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby CoffeeDude » Thu Dec 31, 2020 3:18 pm

I applied rivet PASD606H to aluminum cleats, with good results!
The framing has a solid grip, but I am still able to move it slightly with my hand.
Does a well placed rivet allow for some slight movement by hand?
attached are photos for reference:
Attachments
IMG_2367.JPG
Aluminum frame is movable by hand
IMG_2367.JPG (25.9 KiB) Viewed 5009 times
IMG_2366.JPG
But it does not move easily, I really had to push it
IMG_2366.JPG (26.5 KiB) Viewed 5009 times
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby joshuag » Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:56 pm

I feel like this is a stupid question, but I've been googling like crazy and can't find an answer... How do I know if the aluminum frame I've designed for my camper can be riveted like yours or if it needs to be welded?

I'm going down a wormhole of homebuilt aircraft build logs to try and figure this out! :lol:

I'm thinking I'll just rivet it and hope for the best :)

Only one more question (I think)... why did you choose a steel mandrel instead of aluminum?

Hopefully I can finish my 3d model, post a thread asking for a design review, and then go to HF for an air compressor and rivet gun to get started. I'm hoping to build this in my apartment... regardless of what happens, I'm sure I'll learn something!
-Joshua

I want to build a Tipoon clone foamie but I bought a truck, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do next.

Tipoon Youtube
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:53 pm

Sandro,

Sounds like you're OK. Make sure to use the correct drill bit & make sure the rivet head is seated before pulling the trigger. Sometimes the rivet needs to be tapped down into place.

Are you constructing a frame & then attaching sheet aluminum?
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:29 pm

Joshua,

The Northern Lite construction type is called a semi-monocoque. The outer skin is stressed to help make the connections & structure strong. Some race cars & airplanes would be examples.

My camera failed at the beginning, so I lost pictures of making the walls on the bench. But here is the written description of how it was done:

The cabin is constructed using: .063" (1/16") 3003-H14 sheet aluminum. 16 gage (1/16") x 1" 6063-T52 square tubing. 1/8" x 1" angle cleats. 3M 4919F VHB tape. 3/16" *closed end* aluminum structural rivets (575# shear - 840# tensile).

The walls are made on the work table, outer film protected surface down. The side plan is layed out on the inner face of the sheet. The curve of the roof, window & door openings are cut. The rivet holes are punched or drilled. The hoop is cold formed by hand over a wooden buck. The tube framing is cut & secured in place with tape. The cleats are installed. The assembly is turned outside up. The tubing is drilled through the premade holes in the outer sheet & riveted with a pneumatic riveter.
The walls are installed to the steel floor frame with tape & rivets along the bottom. The ten vertical wall frame members are cleated to the top of the floor frame.

Steel mandrel rivets are much stronger & they break off down inside the rivet unseen.

Fred
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby CoffeeDude » Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:10 pm

Hi Fred,
Yes, I am constructing a frame first, then attaching aluminum sheets last.
Thanks again!
sandro
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby joshuag » Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:51 pm

Thanks Fred! That helps :)

alaska teardrop wrote:Joshua,

The Northern Lite construction type is called a semi-monocoque. The outer skin is stressed to help make the connections & structure strong. Some race cars & airplanes would be examples.

My camera failed at the beginning, so I lost pictures of making the walls on the bench. But here is the written description of how it was done:

The cabin is constructed using: .063" (1/16") 3003-H14 sheet aluminum. 16 gage (1/16") x 1" 6063-T52 square tubing. 1/8" x 1" angle cleats. 3M 4919F VHB tape. 3/16" *closed end* aluminum structural rivets (575# shear - 840# tensile).

The walls are made on the work table, outer film protected surface down. The side plan is layed out on the inner face of the sheet. The curve of the roof, window & door openings are cut. The rivet holes are punched or drilled. The hoop is cold formed by hand over a wooden buck. The tube framing is cut & secured in place with tape. The cleats are installed. The assembly is turned outside up. The tubing is drilled through the premade holes in the outer sheet & riveted with a pneumatic riveter.
The walls are installed to the steel floor frame with tape & rivets along the bottom. The ten vertical wall frame members are cleated to the top of the floor frame.

Steel mandrel rivets are much stronger & they break off down inside the rivet unseen.

Fred
-Joshua

I want to build a Tipoon clone foamie but I bought a truck, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do next.

Tipoon Youtube
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby CoffeeDude » Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:06 pm

Hi Fred,
I have been building my first aluminum TD, I just want to say thanks again for your help!!
(I am having trouble finding suppliers for 6 foot wide aluminum skin, so I will just glue and rivet 4 foot skin pieces.)
Attached is a image of my framing work so far...
Thanks again
Sandro
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Sun Jan 24, 2021 5:47 pm

:thumbsup:

Time to start your build thread, Sandro. With larger pictures! :pictures:
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby Mikel46516 » Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:30 pm

I'm about to start re-reading this build for about the third or fourth time. (This time I think I'll take notes.) Such a clean, uncluttered look. The design, materials and methods just meld together perfectly. Top ten all time. IMHO

Fred, if you still have access, any chance you could re-scan or re-photograph your wonderful drawings so we might see them in focus?

Thank you for sharing your ideas and work here.

Mike
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Re: Northern Lite Traveler

Postby alaska teardrop » Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:41 pm

Thank you Mike for appreciating the work.

My IT expert tells me that the files are too large to post clearly on the forum.

If you personal messege me with your e-mail address, I will send you readable drawing files.

Fred :designing:
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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