[anonymous]

I made a new antenna at work today. I make so many parts for other people, sometimes I need to "test" my skills on "sample" parts. I decided to keep it simple. .54 at the base, 1 inch of straight shaft, then it tapers down to .4 at the end, it is 5 inches long. Made it out of aluminum and it took me about an hour. I used a cnc lathe to turn it down and cut it off, then I used a coax center finder to find the center with a bridgeport manual mill. Then I drilled with 5mm and tapped 6mmx1 using the bridgeport. I'll probably make a few extras in case someone tries to steal it since its already programmed on the lathe. How long do you think before it breaks off my whole antenna mount in a car wash? There's not that much give to it.

 

[sailor]

Pretty - yes

Antenna - not so much

The real stubby ones have wire coiled inside to equal the length of a normal one, that's what makes them work.

Not dissin' the cool machining, it's just not too functional as an antenna.

 

[anonymous]

I know that radio waves do not work with non-ferrous metals. But my radio still works fine, I tried it today on my way home. I actually never use my radio though, just my phone. My old focus had the threads on the antenna base broken off when I got it and I never got a new base and it worked fine also. I thought that most of the stubby antennas were just for looks anyways.

 

[sailor]

Aluminum will work, anything that conducts electricity is OK for an antenna.

TV antennas were mostly aluminum for light weight, just not too common any more.

Hit a fraction of the original's length (like 1/4 for this one) and it'll work in a similar manner, not quite as well but still functional. The original is a compromise anyways, having to work for AM & FM ranges.

The cool fact for antennas is that the optimum is the same or a fraction of the actual wavelength you want to receive, so for car antennas you're starting at a fraction already.

In any case, nice job of machining & I like the look.