Carbon fiber linkages for the SR6
Hi this is my first actual post on Eroscript!
I’ve had this issue with my SR6 where the vibrations were a nightmare causing my whole desk to rattle I could easily reinforce the desk itself but theres not much fun in doing that way, after using my SR6’s for close to 6 months of use & using different linkages i came to these conclusions:
-3d printed ones are good till around 400 max speed before becoming overwelmed & transfering the vibrations to my desk & overall felt floaty & small movements were hard to feel.
-The steel ones had a more direct feel to them but transfered the vibrations a lot more to the desk itself through slow & high speeds
There had to be something better out there & after a lot of research I landed on this idea.
In short carbon fiber has the ability to dampen & dissipate vibrations without losing much stiffness overall I think the numbers were 80% as stiff as the steel rods but around 5x better at dampening vibrations.
Weight comparison:
4 steel linkages: 170g
4 Carbon fiber linkages: 110g
I could have gone overboard with weight savings like using smaller rod end bearings, smaller carbon tubes & drilled them out to fit the inserts but that’s a bit too much work & it compromises the strength of the Carbon Fiber Tube so I kept it simple the small weight savings is just a bonus.
How to make your own:
Materials needed with links:
2x 8x6x330mm carbon fiber tubes
8x M4 rod end bearings
8x 8mm M4 threaded heat threaded inserts
8x M4 20mm threaded rods
1x JB Weld plastic bonder
Total cost £42.70 (probably cheaper if you shopped around)
Tools needed:
Hack saw
Vice (with a jaw length larger than 130mm)
Isopropyl alcohol
120 grit sandpaper
Steel ruler
Step by step guide:
-Measure the in-between parts of your rod ends & cut the carbon tubes to match it make sure you overcut by a few mms I cut mine at 124mm & sanded it back to 123mm
-Thread in your threaded stud
-Thread on your threaded insert
-Sand the inside of the carbon tube ends by inserting a rolled up piece of sand paper then twisting the tube it just needs to be I light sand to allow the resin to key
-Wipe down the two threaded inserts & the tube ends with isopropyl & wait for them to go bone dry
-Mix your JB weld up on a piece of paper or cardboard (to limit the mess) apply it liberally to your insert & rod hole & put it into the carbon tubes hole twisting it so its equally applied to give the strongest bond
-Once you put in the second insert assembly you’ll notice it wants to push itself apart because of the positive air pressure in the tube itself so keep them tightly held together & put it into the vice with the flat edges on all 4 sides rod ends are touching the jaws of the vice this keeps them parallel whist also stopping them from pushing each insert assembly out of the tube.
-Wait half an hour for it to cure & then It’ll be safe to take out of the vice
-rince & repeat till you have 4 Carbon fiber rods for your SR6