There never seems to be much interest in any of my technical posts on this forum, but I'm too obtuse to let that stop me ;-)?
With regard to cable gauge calibration, I have a gauge similar to one that Kevin linked us to in the Aircraft Spruce catalog. The method I use for checking accuracy (which is also the method given in the instructions) is to check the readings on a cable of appropriate size with known weights suspended from it. I use barbell weights for this. To improve accuracy, I found a very kind postal service worker who was nice enough to weigh a set of my weights on her scale just after she calibrated it with weights traceable to a known standard.? I would think that the tensionmeter that Bill has offered up could be calibrated in similar fashion. I don't like mine so much.? The problem I have is with precision.? If I do repeat measurements at the same tension, my results vary more than I would like.? Maybe it's me, maybe it's my specific instrument.? I would like to hear the experience from others who use these things.? The instructions talk about releasing the handle quickly so maybe I need to work on technique. For the frugal types, there is a really cleaver fabricator who I have never met, but have come to know through homebuilding forums. He has scratch built an aluminum airplane and as part of that, he designed and built his own cable tension meter (link below).? If interested, from his main page on the left, it's under the tools section.? The specs are included for a tension meter for 1/8 inch cable with a range of 10-40 lbs but I suspect that the concept could be applied to other cable sizes and weight ranges.? Aside from an impressive chronicle of how he built the airplane, he also gives details on building a bending brake, short wheel base recumbent bike and other neat stuff. Cheers, Bill Bill Biggs said: I don't have the calibration bar, does anyone have a calibration bar for ANY tensiometer or a tensiometer in calabretion to use as a test standard? http://www.macsmachine.com/
