what is CDS tube? i was thinking of using regular steel tube (prolly around 50x3mm) for my rollover bar is that ok?

cold drawn steel

Cold Drawn Seamless for cages.

Regular ERW tube is welded and can split in an impact.

CDS is seamless so it can't split.

You will only ever need to use a cage once (if ever) and you can't test it, but if you do need it you really need it to work properly.

Cheapest way to get it done if you want to DIY is to buy the (properly) bent main tube from MK engineering, MNR, or some other guys with a mandrel bender. It's not too expensive that way, and you don't need to source the CDS if that's difficult with your suppliers.

no on the contrary. the hollow 25x25 rectangular tubes for the chassis i bought are also CDS. seems i might end up with a pretty sturdy chassis!
thanks!
tom

Where did you get rectangular CDS and what did it cost?

BTW what are you doing to that poor wee kitten?

Caber

Who told you it was cds is more to the point? I've never seen cfs/cds rectangular section and would imagine it would be very expensive and unnecessary for our application. The oval and round section is in the region of 4 times dearer than seamed in the same size where I get mine from which would make the chassis about £300 in raw material alone.

well, when i asked the guy quite brutely for steel, he gave me the option of remade steel (i.e. recycled maybe) or cold drawn steel. and for the 36 meters or so of this material the guy asked 25 quid or so for it. maybe i'm confusing it with cold treated steel?

quote:

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Originally posted by caber
Where did you get rectangular CDS and what did it cost?

BTW what are you doing to that poor wee kitten?

Caber

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My roll bar is 50mm x 2.5mm normal erw tube. Braced to the rear chassis corners and with a diagonal it certainly isn't going anywhere. I've never ever ever ever ever seen erw split and cause more damage in a situation than would have happened with CDS.

I'm not saying dont use CDS, just that I think the focus should be much more on the design of the structure. A lot of the small tube totally unbraced in any direction roll hoops i've seen on locosts may as well be made of rubber for all the good they'll do in a bad roll! Dont think for a minute that just cos you've specified CDS, a poorly designed roll bar will offer any protection.

Liam

I just bit the bullet and spent the money, buying the roll-cage tubes bent as needed, from a place specializing in it. That way I could rest assured it was the right stuff, the right size, and I didn't have to ask what to use... It is your life on the line after all... There are places to cut costs, but this isn't one of them.

[Edited on 5/11/06 by kb58]