The Problem With Aluminum...
Hello everyone...Gary here. In a previous blog, I happily discussed the arrival soon of an aluminum Pterodactyl. This aluminum copy of the original stainless steel Pterodactyl was expected to be Approx. half (or better) of the weight of the stainless model. This reduction in weight for this product would be great for diving in fresh water. It would also be great for dive travel where bringing heavy bags onto a plane is always a problem.
Well, after consulting with the machine shop's engineer...a few unavoidable facts have come to light. The stainless steel plate is 1/8th inch thick and, stainless being a very hard metal, it does very well at this thickness and can easily withstand the forces placed upon the "wings" of the plate (the "wings" are the extended areas of the lower left and right corners of the Pterodactyl backplate where the harness rollers are located). However, if the plate were made from 1/8th inch aluminum...the "wings" would not hold-up against these forces (aluminum being a softer metal). The "wings" would flex excessively and would even become bent.
Obviously, to overcome this problem, I have two options. First, I could construct the Pterodactyl from thicker plate...3/16 inch or even 1/4 inch. This option is shot-down because this would negate practically all of the savings in weight from using aluminum in the first place. It would also add to the cost to manufacture this product. Second, I could use 1/8th inch plate but build-in reinforcing bars into the "wing" area to strengthen this part of the plate. This option is shot-down because this would greatly add to the cost to manufactuer this product.
Other manufacturer's backplates, lacking "wings" and having sides that go straight down, are not subjected to such forces. They can make a simple (and thin) aluminum plate and take advantage of the savings in weight. But, no matter how light or heavy their product is, all they have is a CONVENTIONAL BACKPLATE DESIGN. Only the Pterodactyl has the patented harness rollers and Harness Lock Extended "D" rings (to name a few of the innovative features).
Sure, I could make an aluminum Pterodactyl but it would be more expensive than you might expect and it would be hard to justify the cost after such a small savings in weight. I feel it would compromise the quality of my product. Compromise is something you do when deciding what movie to see with your wife...it is NOT anything I apply to Critical Aspect Inc. You can count on that!
Well, after consulting with the machine shop's engineer...a few unavoidable facts have come to light. The stainless steel plate is 1/8th inch thick and, stainless being a very hard metal, it does very well at this thickness and can easily withstand the forces placed upon the "wings" of the plate (the "wings" are the extended areas of the lower left and right corners of the Pterodactyl backplate where the harness rollers are located). However, if the plate were made from 1/8th inch aluminum...the "wings" would not hold-up against these forces (aluminum being a softer metal). The "wings" would flex excessively and would even become bent.
Obviously, to overcome this problem, I have two options. First, I could construct the Pterodactyl from thicker plate...3/16 inch or even 1/4 inch. This option is shot-down because this would negate practically all of the savings in weight from using aluminum in the first place. It would also add to the cost to manufacture this product. Second, I could use 1/8th inch plate but build-in reinforcing bars into the "wing" area to strengthen this part of the plate. This option is shot-down because this would greatly add to the cost to manufactuer this product.
Other manufacturer's backplates, lacking "wings" and having sides that go straight down, are not subjected to such forces. They can make a simple (and thin) aluminum plate and take advantage of the savings in weight. But, no matter how light or heavy their product is, all they have is a CONVENTIONAL BACKPLATE DESIGN. Only the Pterodactyl has the patented harness rollers and Harness Lock Extended "D" rings (to name a few of the innovative features).
Sure, I could make an aluminum Pterodactyl but it would be more expensive than you might expect and it would be hard to justify the cost after such a small savings in weight. I feel it would compromise the quality of my product. Compromise is something you do when deciding what movie to see with your wife...it is NOT anything I apply to Critical Aspect Inc. You can count on that!