Search found 18 matches

by tomcat
Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:26 pm
Forum: Equipment and Tools (e.g., ski press, core profiler, etc)
Topic: vacuum press vacuums
Replies: 9
Views: 7588

Haha, thx MontuckyMadman for that reply; it really made my morning at work so much better :D Guess I was thinking too much about myself cause I have all the stuff left over from my final year project from college, plus a spare vacuum cleaner. It would be a nice way to save 200E on a decent vacuum pu...
by tomcat
Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:21 pm
Forum: Equipment and Tools (e.g., ski press, core profiler, etc)
Topic: vacuum press vacuums
Replies: 9
Views: 7588

Hmm, maybe it would be an interesting solution if you can get a good enough seal on the bag. I think a valve could be used to keep the bag under vacuum, and by placing a pressure sensor inside the bag (placed before the valve), one could build a pressure switch so that the vacuum cleaner would only ...
by tomcat
Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:44 pm
Forum: Equipment and Tools (e.g., ski press, core profiler, etc)
Topic: Moulds for 3D base design
Replies: 24
Views: 19168

I remember I saw some nice molds made from resin by a guy who used to make carbon fiber model aircraft gliders. I think he CNC-ed the positive out of wood, and made the negative mold by resin casting. Only problem is that I don't think a resin cast mold would hold up to a pneumatic press, and I it's...
by tomcat
Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:14 am
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Critique my first design
Replies: 5
Views: 4281

Thanks for the advice regarding the pdf. I'll convert it tonight and post it as a pdf also.
by tomcat
Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:46 am
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Critique my first design
Replies: 5
Views: 4281

Sorry for that.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9zUch8 ... edit?pli=1

It gives an error when you first open the link because you can't preview the file, but if you close the error message you can download the file.
Hope it works now
by tomcat
Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:36 pm
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Critique my first design
Replies: 5
Views: 4281

Critique my first design

So here it goes. http://www.filedropper.com/albatrossv21 Hope you guys can get the .dxf file from the above link. I haven't thought about the core yet, but I'm thinking about something like 2.5-13-3.5, built from laminated ash. I have the impression that tip and tail rise are a little bit to high, b...
by tomcat
Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:40 pm
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

I'll try to look for some formica; never worked with it yet. At first I was thinking about using some 0.3mm aluminum sheet, but I don't really think I can bend it precisely enough to the mold shape. Good to know that the mold surface has to be as close to perfect as I can get it; since you said that...
by tomcat
Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:04 pm
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

You're absolutely right about it twizzstyle; I think I just got too excited in the moment thinking I could make things even more simple. I'll have to think about what material to use so it can easily take the contour of the mold, but still offer enough support to get the bases flat. I guess it's a l...
by tomcat
Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:41 am
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

hmmm, that seems very interesting interesting. It would save a lot of work and fiberglass/epoxy. Nice idea with the plastic packing tape and mold release; will have to remember that one; I also guess it's very easy to just replace the tape once you pull the skis form the mold and you end up with a n...
by tomcat
Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:44 pm
Forum: Equipment and Tools (e.g., ski press, core profiler, etc)
Topic: Advice on first press
Replies: 8
Views: 5886

thanks for the reply and the link sammer! Do you think it would be an ok solution to use mastic tape on the mold surface and just sealing off the top part of the mold, so there would be a smaller volume of air to remove, instead of sticking the whole mold in a bag? Or am I just asking for leaks by d...
by tomcat
Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:17 pm
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

I know about the issue of polyester dissolving polystyrene; I will go with epoxy and I think it will be a nice opportunity to test the resin system I will use for building the skis (though a little expensive maybe). I used to build model aircraft wings with some friends by using the same technique a...
by tomcat
Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:47 pm
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

I'll do more research on the modified nippers; I think I remember seeing something around here that involved cutting a small trench with a dremel so the tang of the edges would fit. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who isn't so blessed that offpiste skiing automatically means powder. I actually enj...
by tomcat
Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:50 am
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

@skidesomnd: I was talking about bending the edges at the tips and tails with the base flat, before bending them for the tip and tail radius. I was just thinking about bending them around a flat MDF template while hot and then trying to restore the temper by quenching them. @twizzstyle: I'll give it...
by tomcat
Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 am
Forum: Equipment and Tools (e.g., ski press, core profiler, etc)
Topic: Advice on first press
Replies: 8
Views: 5886

@Idris: What volume did your vacuum reservoir and what did you actually use for a reservoir? Btw, I envy you so much, reading what you wrote in you r profile at "Location" :D For my vacuum set-up, I was thinking about using a fridge compressor and a vacuum reservoir with a vacuum switch in...
by tomcat
Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:24 am
Forum: Ski/Snowboard Design and Layup
Topic: Foam Mold for use with Vacuum
Replies: 26
Views: 17419

Thanks for the reply! The stuff I was thinking about is actually green :P. I live in Romania, and only did some research on the internet regarding insulation foam, as right now I am doing a 3 month internship in Ireland; that's why I only predict starting the project in September. Anyway, it's a nic...