Shipping a Radar-Advice?

Judah wrote:

[...] What some here may not realize is how fragile the radar
antenna can be. [...] I would not risk plain old packing peanuts
or bubble wrap, if the box being held sideways or upside down
causes a load upon these parts.

What happens in turbulence?

Clearly, it can handle that, but then it has only a few
ounces/decagrams of mass (the fragile mast in the middle) to move
along. If one tries to push the ten-pound magnetron/etc. disc through
the mast, a hundred times as much force would pass through the part.

- FChE

"Frank Ch. Eigler" wrote in message
...

Judah wrote:

[...] What some here may not realize is how fragile the radar
antenna can be. [...] I would not risk plain old packing peanuts
or bubble wrap, if the box being held sideways or upside down
causes a load upon these parts.

What happens in turbulence?

Clearly, it can handle that, but then it has only a few
ounces/decagrams of mass (the fragile mast in the middle) to move
along. If one tries to push the ten-pound magnetron/etc. disc through
the mast, a hundred times as much force would pass through the part.

So it sounds like mounting the radar to a piece of plywood, or something,
(like it is mounted on an airplane) and fastening that in a box, then
surrounding it with peanuts would be the right thing to do, no?
--
Jim in NC

Actually (a) the OP said he wanted to ship the RT unit and the display;
never said a frikkin' word about the antenna and (b) I'm not sure where
Eigler gets his information that the antenna is delicate. Having worked
directly with civilian aircraft weather radar for a long time, I have
absolutely no idea where Eigler is coming from and (c) nobody ever said a
word about packing a maggie directly on top of a delicate part. Separate
boxes come to mind unless you want argument for argument's sake.

Jim

--
"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
--Henry Ford

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Frank Ch. Eigler" wrote in message
...

Judah wrote:

[...] What some here may not realize is how fragile the radar
antenna can be. [...] I would not risk plain old packing peanuts
or bubble wrap, if the box being held sideways or upside down
causes a load upon these parts.

What happens in turbulence?

Clearly, it can handle that, but then it has only a few
ounces/decagrams of mass (the fragile mast in the middle) to move
along. If one tries to push the ten-pound magnetron/etc. disc through
the mast, a hundred times as much force would pass through the part.

So it sounds like mounting the radar to a piece of plywood, or something,
(like it is mounted on an airplane) and fastening that in a box, then
surrounding it with peanuts would be the right thing to do, no?
--
Jim in NC

"RST Engineering" writes:

Actually (a) the OP said he wanted to ship the RT unit and the
display; never said a frikkin' word about the antenna

It seems your broad experience has excluded radar units like my old
RDR-160 where the RT and antenna are actually nailed together into one
unit.

and (b) I'm not sure where Eigler gets his information that the
antenna is delicate. [...]

Jim, I spelled out precisely where I got the information. From
a manufacturer's warning sticker right on the antenna.

- FChE

"RST Engineering" wrote in message
...
Actually (a) the OP said he wanted to ship the RT unit and the display;
never said a frikkin' word about the antenna

My apologies, Jim, I thought the existance of the antenna was implied.
This unit consists of two parts, the display in the aircraft, and the unit
under the wing. The base unit that mounts to the pod is fairly rigged, but
the slotted dish doesn't look like it would support much weight. I'm
concerned about the unit getting tipped over, and landing on the antenna in
the box. I'm sure that the base unit can support the antenna, which only
weighs grams, like it does in turbulence, but I'm trying to avoid any
situation where the antenna has to support the base unit that weighs about
15lbs.
I've checked with our King dealer, in Troutdale, and all they will tell
me is that they use a box from Honeywell. I've asked for a contact or part
number or something, but got no reply.
Roseburg isn't a big town, and doesn't have a Kinko's, but I think we
have a package express, or something.

Al G

"Al G" writes:

Actually (a) the OP said he wanted to ship the RT unit and the
display; never said a frikkin' word about the antenna

My apologies, Jim, I thought the existance of the antenna was implied.

There is no need to apologize. Jim was rude and overconfident of his
mistaken information.

This unit consists of two parts [...]

Indeed, as a few seconds' googling shows, and there are several other
"two-piece" radar systems.

- FChE

"Al G" wrote in
:


"RST Engineering" wrote in message
...
Actually (a) the OP said he wanted to ship the RT unit and the display;
never said a frikkin' word about the antenna

My apologies, Jim, I thought the existance of the antenna was
implied.
This unit consists of two parts, the display in the aircraft, and the
unit under the wing. The base unit that mounts to the pod is fairly
rigged, but the slotted dish doesn't look like it would support much
weight. I'm concerned about the unit getting tipped over, and landing on
the antenna in the box. I'm sure that the base unit can support the
antenna, which only weighs grams, like it does in turbulence, but I'm
trying to avoid any situation where the antenna has to support the base
unit that weighs about 15lbs.
I've checked with our King dealer, in Troutdale, and all they will
tell
me is that they use a box from Honeywell. I've asked for a contact or
part number or something, but got no reply.
Roseburg isn't a big town, and doesn't have a Kinko's, but I think
we
have a package express, or something.

Perhaps the PC shipping model is appropriate...

Some rigid styrofoam bars (you might even find them at a craft store or the
craft section of a walmart) well taped together into a structure
surrounding the antenna and then taped to the base. If the unit is flipped
over, the structure should serve as a stand to the base so that the antenna
is essentially suspended (but supported, ideally)...

Generally, a picture is worth 1000 words, but hopefully I have enough words
here to draw a bit of a picture...