Engineering project

Cold_And_Miserable · 5 Oct 2007 at 15:16

Hello
Are there any engineers here?
In my spare time I like to build projects that I design in my head. My latest idea is to build an decagonal barrel about 30cm in diameter and width; out of 10 rectangle lengths fused together, fused to solid decagons on both ends.
It needs to be able to carry 340 1+1/16" chrome steel spheres inside it at 88 revolutions per minute continuously without any cracking or bending.
Assuming the walls are at least 10mm thick:

What order would you rate these materials in suitability? Which is best?
1. Acryllic 2. Polycarbonate 3. Polypropene 4. HD polyethene

Thank you for any ideas

~>Dg<~ · 5 Oct 2007 at 15:25

so your making a bingo machine then or tumbler .

danza · 5 Oct 2007 at 16:25

It depends whether you want it to look nice really!

I'd imagine polycarbonate would be best, as it's used for machine guards and it's used in bulletproofing applications. The only issue with it is it brittles/crazes with age at points where it's bent. Polyprop is quite soft, and might wear better than polycarb. Not too sure on HD polyethene. I think acryllic is probably unsuitable, as most applications for it seem to be 'static' or ornamental.

Old Wino · 5 Oct 2007 at 16:32

Cold_And_Miserable · 5 Oct 2007 at 16:42

Regarding danza's reply I think polycarbonate may be the only option. I don't care how it looks, its a pulverising machine, not a lottery tumbler. I'm trying to minimise costs, what thickness can I get away with at 30kg+ of weight at 80rpm?