twgrosmick
10-18-2012, 12:33 PM
So after talking with Steve and from past experience I spent a few hours today with my engineering software to determine what type of design I would use to minimize weight, minimize cost, and at the same time hold up to the force that the cage will be under when I have bedding, snakes, and other cages stalked on top of it.
I started off with reinforcing each of the sides, bottom, top, and back with triangles ( By nature these are one of the strongest structures and distribute the force very well ) After running a stress analysis with a force load of 500 lb. +, I realized that I really didn't need as much support as I thought.
For the most part the load is going to be distributed at the edges. The substrate on the bottom is not going to affect it as much as one would think. I know Steve uses beefier supports to frame out his cage but I planned on designing my cages 36"x14"x18" (l x w x h). Each will house 2-4 adults depending on size and breeding plans. The babies will continue to be kept in a rack system because it just does not make sense to build cages for the babies.
Anyways... The frame is going to be 1" x 1" square dowel rods while I plan to use 1/4" plywood to bring everything together. The front will be sliding glass doors on a metal track. I have uploaded a picture of the frame my inventor software that I found to work best and keep cost down. I have estimated that the supplies will come in around $40.00 per cage give or take $5. I will drill holes in the frame and put the pieces together with wood glue, 1/4" round wood dowels, and small screws.
They will be heated with 11" flexwatt and incandescent lighting will be used in all the cages and mounted to the top. If you have any suggestions or have any ideas to improve please let me know. I am confident that what I have will hold under the given stress loads so structurally I am sound. Debating building a raised level that is 6" raised up and 3" extended out from the back that I would fill with substrate but offer another viewing level for the snakes.
7168
For whatever reason I can not get the picture to format correctly....
I started off with reinforcing each of the sides, bottom, top, and back with triangles ( By nature these are one of the strongest structures and distribute the force very well ) After running a stress analysis with a force load of 500 lb. +, I realized that I really didn't need as much support as I thought.
For the most part the load is going to be distributed at the edges. The substrate on the bottom is not going to affect it as much as one would think. I know Steve uses beefier supports to frame out his cage but I planned on designing my cages 36"x14"x18" (l x w x h). Each will house 2-4 adults depending on size and breeding plans. The babies will continue to be kept in a rack system because it just does not make sense to build cages for the babies.
Anyways... The frame is going to be 1" x 1" square dowel rods while I plan to use 1/4" plywood to bring everything together. The front will be sliding glass doors on a metal track. I have uploaded a picture of the frame my inventor software that I found to work best and keep cost down. I have estimated that the supplies will come in around $40.00 per cage give or take $5. I will drill holes in the frame and put the pieces together with wood glue, 1/4" round wood dowels, and small screws.
They will be heated with 11" flexwatt and incandescent lighting will be used in all the cages and mounted to the top. If you have any suggestions or have any ideas to improve please let me know. I am confident that what I have will hold under the given stress loads so structurally I am sound. Debating building a raised level that is 6" raised up and 3" extended out from the back that I would fill with substrate but offer another viewing level for the snakes.
7168
For whatever reason I can not get the picture to format correctly....