TiLite TR3 Fabrication Progress Pics

[chasmengr]

TiLite kindly agreed to take some pics of my chair during fabrication. The pics have increased my level of respect for the process. As more pics are sent to me, I will add them to the library.

[rAdGie]

quality welding, looking good the welding on my tr3 is perfect, they are good at it

[WaveWolf]

Very exciting to see it in the making! Thanks for posting.

[tooley]

I'm always curious about manufacturers fabrication "jigs" used to hold tubing in place while welding frames. I've seen other companies, typically cobbled together from whatever. But Ti's is the nicest by far. Certainly must contribute to the quality of welds - the welder has unencumbered access to the entire frame. Note the mounting point on the floor. Most others build on a table - Ti's jig allows the welder to sit under the frame and make pretty.

Nice.

[elarson]

Really interesting to see. Thanks for sharing.

[ala]

Best thread I've seen in a long while.

[nonoise]

Here is the PM I sent Chas when I first saw he filed the pictures:
You may know these things. If that is titanium, the rusty orange color at the welds is a good thing. Mike next door said Boing would reject welds that were shipped to their factory if the welds had been wire brushed because they would not be able to tell if the welds were done properly. Also that blue hose attached to your chair is to flood the tube with inert gas to keep ... I think oxygen out of there during the welding process. I'm impressed with the jig. Mike also noted that welding tubing causes it to bend, mine did a little when Colin made the revisions. So that jig probably also prevents bending in addition to just holding the parts. Like I said you probably knew this stuff, but thanks for posting the pictures. I learned something.

[chasmengr]

Best thread I've seen in a long while.

Thank our CCC TiLite employee! She's the one taking the pics

[Oddity]

Gotta agree, these pics are fantastic. I love the jig they've designed, just fantastic! Very cool stuff, keep it coming!

[Brianm]

I add my thanks for the pictures as well. I have an issue with one of my wheels carrying a bit and while I have tried correcting it, with the help of my dad, we have not successfully done so. This has led to questioning the chair being square and while it is always possible it isn't, looking at this jig helps me realize how secure and squared up it is when welded.

[webfoot]

Kudos to chasmengr & Tilite for sharing the process. Interesting project that should solve a problem I've had with my dragonfly spinning out when used on chairs with COG of 4".

[chasmengr]

TiLite tells me my chair's fabrication will be completed by the end of this week !!!

[webfoot]

Looking forward to seeing the finished project. Thanks again for sharing!

[chasmengr]

PT called this morning - my chair is in town at the VA!!

VA is currently arranging delivery to my house as is (still in the box). Chief of VA Prosthetics wanted to deliver it to their DMEs for assembly, but after I explained the intricacies of the design/fabrication features that required verification prior to acceptance of the chair, he agreed to deliver it directly to me. Chief told me to let him know if it's not built correctly.

I'm so excited - I sure hope it's built correctly. I'd hate to have to send it back . . .

Timeline:
Wheelchair clinic = 03FEB15
Wheelchair delivery = ~03AUG15
days elapsed ~180 (six months) Hopefully worth the wait.

Substantial time was consumed getting the CAD correct:
initial CAD receipt = 19MAR
final CAD sign off (of 3rd CAD) = 08MAY

[elarson]

Can't wait to hear more. Hope they are quick about delivery.