Stainless chassis building
Stainless chassis building
(OP)
Hello
I am enquiring about building a bespoke stainless chassis for an EV and need some educated advice please.
Basic questions being, what grades to use in the UK, go thicker or thinner than exisiting mild steel sizes and is TIG better then MIG?
Suppliers do not seem to have complete answers !!
So many questions and so little time !
Thanks in advance. EVPete
I am enquiring about building a bespoke stainless chassis for an EV and need some educated advice please.
Basic questions being, what grades to use in the UK, go thicker or thinner than exisiting mild steel sizes and is TIG better then MIG?
Suppliers do not seem to have complete answers !!
So many questions and so little time !
Thanks in advance. EVPete





RE: Stainless chassis building
TIG is much slower than MIG, but better suited to delicate work. We can't tell from here which is more appropriate for you. Go to the welding supply store and buy a book, or take a course.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Stainless chassis building
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Stainless chassis building
Regards
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RE: Stainless chassis building
If you need detailed answers, ask specific questions.
RE: Stainless chassis building
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Stainless chassis building
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welds with concave fillets. grind/blend smooth.
Design frame so there will be minimal bending loads in individual members.
RE: Stainless chassis building
With stainless steel you have a large increase in cost without a lot of benefit in increased strength.
In the UK you still have to deal with salt on the roads in the winter. So while stainless will give you a benefit it is not as much as you think. EN58J stands salt a little better than EN58.
A mild steel or low alloy steel chassis, painted and undercoated will serve just as well.
Stainless UK, EN58 (304)ultimate tensile 515mpa approx yield 205mpa EN58J (316)slightly less
mild steel sae 1020 ultimate 380mpa yield 165mpa
Low alloy Sae 4130 annealed 561mpa yield 361mpa
The low alloy steel would give you a lighter chassis and can be MIG or TIG welded or Oxy Acetylene gas welded.
B.E.
RE: Stainless chassis building
1010 or 1020 will have better ductility so will be more useful in a crash.
304 varies, some is usefully 'stainless' some might be better characterised as non magnetic steel.
Typically spaceframes rust from the inside out.
Whoever is signing off your vehicle for road use may have opinions or regulations governing the choice of steel.
That's everything I can remember.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.