Shipping a Radar-Advice?

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

"Al G" writes:

A friend has recently updated his C210's avionics with a largely
Garmin panel. Among the things removed was a King RDS81 weather
radar. [...] have to figure out how to get it there from Oregon, as
safely as possible. [...] The R/T is probably 12" x 12", and weighs
about 15 lbs.[...]

The thought makes me squirm. What some here may not realize is how
fragile the radar antenna can be. There is a sticker on mine (old
King RDR160) that warns against even *touching* the movable parts. 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.

http://web.elastic.org/~fche/gallery..._4423.jpg.html

- FChE

If that is really the case, which is quite possible, then the OP would be
faced with the prospect of engineering a real shipping crate within a
crate--or of renting one. If renting, the radar manufacturer might be a
source. Alternatively, the may have shipping instructions available.

It has now been about 20 years since I have handled this type of equipement,
although I have shipped a few computers since; but, to the best of my
recollection, the flat panel (slotted waveguide) antennas were much less
fragile than the parabolic antennas. However, with either type, the most
correct method of packing is to mount the intenna to the inside of one wall
of a rigid crate. The crate can then be placed inside a larger bax and
cushioned with bubble wrap, popcorn, etc. While the cushioning material
should not be overly compressed, it sould not be loose either--especially if
you use something like popcorn--or the inner box may be resting on the botom
by the time you bring it to the counter!

My experiences were always good with FedEx, Airborne, and RedBall. I am
sorry that no other such names come readily to mind.

Peter

(Frank Ch. Eigler) wrote in
:

The thought makes me squirm. What some here may not realize is how
fragile the radar antenna can be. There is a sticker on mine (old
King RDR160) that warns against even *touching* the movable parts. 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?

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

B A R R Y wrote:
"RST Engineering" wrote:

Do NOT ship UPS. Those *******s will find a way to screw up the
process one way or another, and we ship two to three hundred packages
a year.

Good advice for packing. As another data point, our bike shop's
experience is exactly the opposite for the two shipping companies
mentioned.

Same here, Fedex today dropped off a package, never rang the bell or
knocked on the door and left without a signature...

And they always do that, even leaving packages outside or in the rain...

UPS on the other hand always wants to tell me hello (and probably to get
something cool to drink)...

"Darrel Toepfer" wrote in message
. 18...
B A R R Y wrote:
"RST Engineering" wrote:

Do NOT ship UPS. Those *******s will find a way to screw up the
process one way or another, and we ship two to three hundred packages
a year.

Good advice for packing. As another data point, our bike shop's
experience is exactly the opposite for the two shipping companies
mentioned.

Same here, Fedex today dropped off a package, never rang the bell or
knocked on the door and left without a signature...

And they always do that, even leaving packages outside or in the rain...

UPS on the other hand always wants to tell me hello (and probably to get
something cool to drink)...


An FYI: You can contact FedEx and always require a signature (or hold) on
packages destined for your address. I do that because I have (on a
semi-regular basis) have high-value packages...

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
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