Steel thickness help needed.

[Philly]

Hello everyone, Philly here.

I've been browsing the forum for a while now(about a year) and Im getting ready for my first project that isnt a repair.

Im making a small sit on electric car for my 2 girls(2-3) and have all the drive, electrics(my day job) and even the design for the frame but the trouble I'm having is what thickness box section to use. I was thinking 20mm x 20mm x 2mm for the main base. Would this be strong enough? Maybe 1.5mm to save on weight? It will be Mig welded.

Thanks

 

[pedrobedro]

If you can get it in 1.5mm it will easily be strong enough. The design will be the part that determines the actual strength of the final structure though, triangulation and reinforcement in the right places but for the load your kids will put on it you should be fine.

 

[Philly]

Cheers, 1.5mm will help save on weight. The design should easily cover the weight, but I was unsure on how well 1.5mm box section holds up, I normally use sheet metal.

Thanks, Philly!

 

[Chickenjohn]

1.5mm box section is thicker than found on most modern cars! So it would actually be overkill for a kiddies toy car. Will be plenty. You could jump up and down on the frame and nothing would happen!