Re: Interesting Ti's

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-03-26 03:36:15 EST, you write:

<< > The cost of materials is only a portion of the cost of the final
 > product -- production is a substantial expense, and steel is much
 > easier to work with than most other metals.
 
 True, but with the materials I deal with the cost of Ti over same steel
 wire is about double.  
 -- 
  >>
Well let's explore that a little further.  Since we know that ALL spring
companies do the MAJORITY of their work in steel (I would argue all of them
at more than 90++%), not Ti, then one could make the argument that the
purchasing department is doing their job, and  the quantity discount of the
primary raw material (in fact the ONLY RM other than paint) is substantial
for steel and not for Ti.  So your EFFECTIVE cost of those springs would be,
by definition, MORE than double, using your own experience Randall.  And, we
are assuming no engineering or retooling costs here.

Again, and maybe some boy/girl racer can share the cost, this is all
guessing.  Given 1000 folks on this list, someone has to have some experience
or connection here.  Or is the use of Ti so small that no one knows of one
using them?  If that is the case, I would venture an argument further that we
are collectively missing something here.  If the Unsprung weight savings is
significant enough (one lister put it "ounces not pounds"), what's up?   This
is several POUNDS savings here, and 1/2 of it in Unsprung weight!!  Why
wouldn't EVERY race team run Ti springs?  The Majority of race cars here in
the US use Eibach Steel ERS springs.  Did we discover some big secret no one
else thought up?  We all know the massive advantages of unsprung weight, and
the difficulting in achieving it.  

Something is missing here.  

my .02, practically speaking

Scott