Aluminum--what kind

[Goodhand]

Monte,

I tried to send you a PM, but was told your message board space is plumb full. So, I'm forced to ask it, here... Is this the year you get airborne on your home brewed copter?

[monte55]

Im hoping so.

[MR.57]

BP presumably stands for back panel, 2016 is part number, AL means it's an aluminum back panel. The aluminum back panels are made from 3003 H14 according to the company that makes them (Stahlin, not Stamlin). Link to specs below.
http://www.stahlin.com/web_size_img/PDF/BackPanels.pdf

I doubt that's helpful on a 2 year old post, but it took me about 4 minutes to figure out by typing the P/N into Google.

[Burnt hands]

Hi Nick,

I have had the same problem trying to identify "mystery" metal samples.

For the past 2 years, I waited until I could go to Eastec in Springfield, MA.
This year it is May 17 to 19. (www. easteconline.com)

For me it is a 6 hour drive each way so I saved my metal samples I needed to be tested and brought them up with me.

Last year, there was one exhibitor with a Niton X ray analyzer.
Forgot their name but they most likely will be there in 2011.

Showed them my 3 samples and asked if I could pay them to have them tested.
Told them I am a bozo tig welder and wanted to know the alloy of these stainless pieces as I had an upcoming job.

They were most gracious and tested my samples for free.

The test took all of 1o to 15 seconds if that long. The analyzer looks like a portable bar code reader but is much more sophisticated and costs $20,000 and up.

It read out that my samples were 15-5 PH stainless and 416 stainless.

For me it was worth the drive but there may be a less costly answer for you.

This gentleman on ebay has a much more sophisticated machine which will give you the elemental analysis of your sample.

I emailed Gary and he was extremely helpful. He will give you the detailed elemental analysis of your sample. However, unlike the Niton gun, he may not be able to match your sample to an exact alloy. But it is easy to look up the composition of almost any alum alloy and probably match it to your sample.

I plan to send him some samples in the near future as it is a lot easier than driving 12 hours round trip.

Gary's analysis start at $15, less than 4 gallons of gas (at the moment) or 3 gallons of diesel.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Hope it helps,

[Donald Branscom]

I called the company that makes that part. (Stahlin)
Good company and good response.

The engineer looked at the drawing of the part and said it was 3003 H14 aluminum.
3003-H14 (QQ-A-250/2c)
General purpose manganese alloy. Stronger than 1100 with same good formability and low cost. Fine corrosion resistance and weldability. Used in stampings, spun and drawn parts, mail boxes, cabinets, tanks, fan blades. For higher strength, consider 5052-H32.

Answer....You can weld it.