MM update and boat progress
 

Hi Folks
I have not posted for a while but often follow some threads.

I updated the MM with a replacement computer. Windows Vista as I owned the operating system already on a clean installation. Took a while to reload mach3 to remember how the zero detection on the tool were installed etc as they did not go with my backup strategy...

SO much faster clock rate is stable to 100kHz up from the 25kHz I had before. I have not yet installed the higher voltage transformer I have, still on my list.

New aluminium spindle mount installed. The original timber one wore out though lasted a few years. I built it to last as long as it took to cut a better one, but while it was working I left it alone.

Reset the squareness of the spindle and cleaned up the coolant system. Purchased a four inch dust collector. Other than eliminating the use of expensive dust collection bags I think I preffered the old Vax system. It was out of the way when not in use and adequate for my small volumes.

Last weekend I installed the form for the middle hull of the trimaran. All the cnc cut forms from the MM.

Oops not sure how I get photo the right way up
Cheers
David

Sweet!!

Wow!!

Big Trimarans are very extended model boats in australia and those parts of the world.
Im following some constructions web's.
And the epoxy sistem will be infusion and corecells?.

Regards.

Hi Ros
I am using Corecell a closed cell foam. West system epoxy. I vacuum bag the flat sheets onto a flat table putting fiberglass or carbon on both sides at once. Peel ply is on the outside of the sandwich sheet. Total less than 11mm thick.

I then cut these sheets with a two flute straight router bit in a single pass keeping the speed up.
The two flute straight router bit leaves the swarf in the cut. This helps hold the part in the sheet.
No vacuum hold down on my table for big sheets. any dust collection vacuum lifts the parts and they move while cutting.

The fiberglass, epoxy and foam are all excellent insulators. So static electricity is a big problem. The dust clings to EVERYTHING.

The fiberglass when cut makes me itchy so often wear a complete dust suit and mask.

Have to watch cuts closely as if the peel ply is loose at all it will wrap around the bit and brake the bit.
Great Machine :)

One of my next projects is a vacuum bag setup based on a Joewoodworker design.
All this varied work using the MM fascinates me.

Hi Darren
my vac bag setup uses two (one small and one larger ) old refrigerator compressors as vacuum pumps. I have an old aircraft manifold pressure gauge to indicate absolute pressure attached as that is what I had around.
I have mounted this in an MDF box cut on MM

The main thing is to have the air exits from the compressors run up the inside of the cabinet. They then join together at the top and exit via a 20m tube.
This is a makeshift oil air separator so the oil runs back into the compressors. Importantly the air out let goes away from the fiberglass area so the area is not contaminated by the oil vapour / small droplets.

Mine is on three old skate board trucks/ wheels.

Opens up what can be made.
Cheers
David

Great idea to keep the oil in the compressor.
I had read that that can be a problem with them.
Thanks!!

refrigerator compressors are very high pressure pumps, it is possible more than needed, be careful with this.

Is important use special epoxy for high pressure infusion

One good read and list of pumps used for big infusions:

Link

Thanks for the pressure warning.

I am only vac bagging not infusing. The glass is wet out by the resin by hand then put in a plastic bag and the vac pump is switched on. It is possible for these to pull too much vacuum and leave the glass dry. I have not had this problem and I have the two pumps on separate switches. I planed initially for a vac switch to control the vacuum. I never needed it. I usually chase leaks in the bag until I get a vac I am happy with then stop chasing and let it set.

I do have a PVC pipe as an inlet catch to stop resin going into the pumps. I have never needed it as I have never had a trace of resin into the vac line when disassembling the vac bag.

My whole rig with pipe gauges and box was from junk lying around and about $200 for bits I could not find.

The large sheets 1.2m x 2.4m worked very well as we did enough to get well past the initial learning curve. We made one a day setting up after work. vac on overnight. Disassemble before work. These were sealed onto the table and the vac pump was a lot less volume than the link (I estimate). we would pat the air out then apply pump and within ten minutes it would be down to a reasonable pressure. No way we could work fast enough to exceed the earliest time to apply the vac in the manufacturers specs for the resin.

You said your bag is plastic, is that plastic sheeting like the drop cloth type stuff? Do you use a release agent? And do you use a mesh or something to allow the vacuum to reach the farthest points? or is that the purpose of the 2 pumps? Got any Pics? I've always wanted to make my own boat. Too many Questions?:D

Hi Tom

Not much to see as it is in the box.
Top left is air out with a valve to close for transport and keep bugs out. Old 19mm corrugated conduit as long air outlet pipe.
Air inlet is top right starting on al tube. This goes high to help stop air flow carrying resin in, not been a problem.

Gauge is 2.25 inch diameter to get a scale panel slopes back so switch etc does not get bashed as it is rolled around.

min pressure I get absolute is 5 inches Hg.

Plastic that is best is a vac bagging film 0.1mm clear and durable. any plastic that is not melted by the wet resin is ok.

A wadding (can be old cotton or synthetic) is used under the plastic so the vacuum is spread around.
this wadding collects the "dots" of excess resin. when the lay up is done well we get up to six uses out of the wadding. One if too much resin is applied.

Under the wadding is perforated plastic.

Under the perforated plastic is Peel ply.

Under the peel ply is the part that is being made.

The vac bagging more than doubles the time required compared to a hand layup.

Better adhesion to the foam and glass to resin ratio is achieved by vac bagging.

I don't vac bag any of the large curved surfaces like outsides of hulls. Too much hassle and too small a vac pump.

Oh on my computer and phone the photo is the right way up......

I'm thinking after I get the SuperPID set up, I need to get going on a setup similar to yours. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Yeah thanks for sharing

Batterns added and Foam
 

Batterns are attached to the form frames.

10mm Corecell foam is added to the batterns by 1500 screws in recesses cut by mech mate.
This holds the hull shape for classing.
Top of hull half to the left. port side is being made.
Cheers

Hi David,

What size boat are you making?

Looks good so far.

Warm regards

Boat Progress
 

Boat is a Farrier F85 8.5m long

Shown on its side. all MDF and Fiberglass panels cut on MM.

I cut slots in the Aluminium mast on the weekend by mounting it next to the base board of the MM. Great Machine !!
Cheers
David

big project !
something like this ?

http://s30.postimg.org/o3qysuuf1/F_8..._Sailing_2.jpg

something like this in your garden ?

Thats the boat but not my shed...

Yacht makes it to the front yard to be assembled
 

Hi
Long time no post....
I am doing the final assembly of the 8.5m long by 6m wide three hulled Farrier F85.

Mech mate is covered in dust and rust spots as I don't oil it to decrease contamination of the fiberglass components. Only failure in last few years has been the computer mouse.. What a great design! :)
Cheers
David

Congratulations David
 

Anyone who makes a machine then a boat has got it in spaces.
Well done and hope your days sailing are long and enjoyable.

Kind Regards
Ross

Thanks Ross
Shame you aren't on the west coast will need a crew, it folds up and goes on a trailer might have to go see the barrier reef,
Cheers David

Now that is nice.
Do the solar panels generate enough power to run the machine
or just the lights. :)

Cool project. You should be proud, I see a lot of those bigger project never come to an endresult.
Care to share some more pics of it ?
Safe sailing !

Wow David, what a magnificent accomplishment. I share Fox's interest in more photos. I take it that MechMate #99 played an important role in the construction of her.

Wow David, that is a cool project, Congratulations!, same as #99 ....#20 still going strong with no glitches. To this day I enjoy watching it work.

That's look really nice. Thanks for the update.

It's amazing! Show us lots of photos of the boat and the view from the boat on the water too!

Boat build coming together
 

A few photos of the progress.
Cheers
david

A beauty.

How about a version of this to go with it.

http://www.craftsmanspace.com/free-p...heel-plan.html

Wow! Excellent work! That's quite a project and it's turning out beautifully.