Prepared by: Barry Sparrow and Sal Ienco Civil/Construction
Sault College
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You will need: Balsa wood Tape Cutting knife Clamps Books Math
set Glue Cardboard Pins Sandpaper Pencil
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Cut accurately Take your time Be careful Total length to be
450mm Save your off cuts (scraps) Cutting Video
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Cut both truss sides at the same time
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Use tape to hold parts in place Use white or carpenters glue Be
sure to glue all contact faces
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Be neat Use a damp cloth or tissue to clean up Pins can hold
parts temporarily Use scraps as spacers
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Check the alignment Complete the truss gluing
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Use more tape to hold parts in place Use books or similar
weights to hold in place until glue has dried (1- 2 hours) Gluing
Video
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Remove books Cut away tape and remove carefully
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Remove any pins and remaining tape Repeat process for side
2
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Now the truss sides can be assembled Measure and cut the cross
members Make sure bridge is minimum width (40 mm)
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Glue top and bottom cross pieces in place Line up cross members
with truss webbing
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Use spacers or blocks to keep parts straight Sand and trim
before gluing to ensure a good connection
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Once the connections have glue applied the truss can be put in
place Apply glue ready for the top cross members Use tape to keep
cross members in place
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Install top cross pieces Diagonal bracing installed later after
glue had dried
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Books keep everything in place until glue sets Spacers keep
sides straight up (vertical) Let dry for 1-2 hours
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Use clamps where needed to install final cross pieces
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To deal with compression forces, extra material is added at
each truss end
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Adding gussets at bottom corners increases the connection
strength
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For this bridge, diagonal bracing material was made from
thickness pieces, cut along the length
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Cut and assemble thickness angled bracing These pieces are used
on each end of the bridge to keep it from collapsing sideways Trim
to size after they are in place and the glue has dried
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Install bracing Note gusset added at top cross member
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After glue dries, bracing can be trimmed and sanded
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Diagonal X bracing is installed Cut to fit Use pins or tape to
hold in place until glue dries
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Install bracing on top as well as bottom of bridge Note extra
gusset at support point
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Bridge is complete Touch up lightly with sandpaper Its ready
for testing Testing Video
