Choosing quality Display Truss is not as simple as you would think. If you are looking for a product that will look beautiful for years, withstand hundreds maybe thousands of assemblies then you need to understand the basics of display truss fabrication and basic material characteristics.
There are many display and exhibit truss products on the market today, many of which come from overseas that simply do not stand up to everyday use and further do not have the structural integrity that is required to safely mount the weight of accessories like monitors, lighting and signage.
When 8’ and longer spans of display truss are integrated into an exhibit, the truss must be of sound quality or it will bow and eventually fail.
What are the physical characteristics of quality Display Truss?
Display truss should be manufactured out of structural aluminum. It should not be manufactured from inferior aluminum that is rolled and seamed; the tubing should be manufactured using an extrusion process that creates a full consistent wall thickness that does not have a processing seam. The seam creates a void in the integrity of the tubing which will cause premature failure.
In the graphic below the difference between seamless and seamed tubing can be seen. Never purchase display truss that is manufactured out of tubing that has a seam as depicted on the right side.
For standard display truss, the tubing itself should be a full 2`in diameter or 50mm with a wall thickness of .065`or 1.6mm. With these dimensional characteristics, the display truss components are still light enough to be easily handled yet can withstand the weight of accessories without concern.
Below is the standard component weight table for quality triangular display truss span capabilities compared to the weight of each component
Point Load – Center Point load on Truss
UDL – Uniformly Distributed load along Truss
When it comes to welding, the primary welding process used in the fabrication of aluminum display truss is TIG“ or Tungsten Inert Gas welding. The process uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode that delivers the current to the welding arc. The tungsten and weld puddle are protected and cooled with an inert gas, typically argon.
Display truss not only requires a quality weld with good penetration to achieve its strength but it requires a smooth cosmetically appealing weld for display purposes. With this said, a cosmetically appealing weld and a strong weld go hand in hand. Welds that have porosity, black cavities and burn marks are not only terrible to look at but typically depict an inferior weld.
Choosing a quality display truss product is critical to the success and longevity of any exhibit. When comparing products, keep in mind that the difference in price between a quality display truss product and an inferior product is minuscule in comparison to its appearance and longevity.
VersaTruss has a provided high quality display truss to trade show and entertainment industry for over three decades. Check out the full line of display truss products today.
When it comes to custom exhibit and display truss including custom colors, Think VersaTruss
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