Category Archives: New Designs

More Impact

These two samples were subjected to the same ASTM impact test. I forgot to ask the test number.  Chippy organized the test.

The Vectran clearly outperformed the Kevlar.  Did I mention that Chippy sells Vectran?  Odd twist, he doesn’t believe in websites nor email.  Have to use a phone to contact him.  425-747-8712.  And I have rarely met anyone who could be creating better topics for how-to videos than Chippy.

vectrang

 

Visit From Chippy

I had a great meeting Friday with my crazed composites inventor friend Chippy(Robert Chilipala). Earlier he came up with basalt fiberglass. Then powdered holograms to add to laminates. Recently epoxy made from apple juice and fiberglass from cellulose. And what looks like a cookie that you add water to and it will cook your meal. I will have data sheets soon. He now has 87 companies. He keeps innovating. Seated on the left.

On right, a high end fiberglass weaver from Las Vegas, Steve Nagamoto.  His company CH Composites weaves a product similar to the Rovelock product but at a better price.  http://www.chcomposites.com/

chippy

Airex in the Sun

I forget now what the heat distortion temperature of Airex core is. I used to know off top of my head. I did always know it was lower than a cross linked pvc and slightly lower than SEN core. So when I set about heat bending some Airex window stops on the lander, I was surprised that this was all I could get to bend. It was a 100F day and I set the pieces in dark sand that was reading 155F. I thought just a little extra boost from a hair dryer was all I needed. No way. And this was with using weight.

airexinsun

KHSD Atlantic Rowboats 2012

Two competing teams used my F40 cat hulls that year. One was a tri and this one was a cat.  This is a video about David’s cat.  www.rocexpedition.com/

http://vimeo.com/75176109

That crack in the bow was alarming.  Clearly no triaxial nor uni glass was used.  They declined laminate design. 

I was surprised how heavy and low tech the items like rudders or hatches were on these rowing multis.  I was retained to do a design for a trimaran for ’13 but Roy skipped out without paying, so the design sits.

big-bluerowing

 

Spiders

The multihull sailor and philosopher Mark Evans used to remark that spiders will move into epoxy boats immediately, but never onto polyester boats.
I’m building the spaceship like a boat, with epoxy.  This large alpha arachnid in the lunar lander was warning me to back off.  It was his  house now.  There must be human health implications.

IMG_20140807_160425_473