Re: Bench testing cast track links [TANKS]

[Frank Pittelli <frank-at-rctankcombat.com>]

Marc en Wendy wrote:
> Today I 'bench tested' the track links that Sigi casted. Three links 
> have been connected by 4 mm pins (see attached photo). Twisting the 
> links shows that the polyurethane is very tough and a bit flexible, but 
> returning to it's original form after releasing the force. When placing 
> one of the link 'wings' in the vice and putting tension on the link 
> itself it snapped, but that was to be expected.

You may want to consider putting a single piece of medium weight 
fibreglass cloth in each tread when it is molded.  Polyurethane by 
itself is very durable, but the glass cloth gives it a lot more 
strength.  When molding treads, I just push the pre-cut cloth into the 
resin while it is setting and that's it.

In our own "Tanner Testing" (ie. give a volunteer fireman your part and 
a hammer), the cloth version held out the longest, far surpassing the 
resin only treads.  Our battlefield testing over the last two years also 
shows that the treads work very well on the field and have stood up to 
everything we thrown at them.

        Frank P.