Originally Posted by DEW My thinking was that an I beam has 1 web and the rectangle tubing has 2-one on each side. So the tubing would be stronger. This application is for the rail/beam on a bridge saw. Approx. 14' long. supported on both ends. I don't want hardly any deflection in the z axis but more importantly none in the y axis. It has to cut in a straight line period. Again, it seems as if the rectangle tubing would be stronger, my thoughts.
Regards,
Doug |
I will second DareBee; if you give more detail you can get a more focussed answer. For this application you are probably better to go with a trussed structure as JerryFlyGuy suggests. Part of the reason I make this suggestion is that the amount of deflection in the Y direction depends on the spacing of your guide rails and the distance from the guide rails to the point where the load is applied. Closely spaced rails are not suitable and the only way you can get them well separated is with a tall beam, i.e., large rectangular tube; which is heavy. A trussed structure is more work but much less weight.