| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| super windy |
Posted - 14/04/2008 : 17:52:58
Hi guys
today I finished a job at 10 am, and rushed home to make my blades, man even with all the tools you may need, it's hard work,I could of donne maybe 8 sets of pvc blades in the 5 hours work that it took me, although it is satisfying to look at when finished, and hopefully they will have the right airfoil for the future energy alternator, anyway, here's a little video, maybe someone can point out anything I should be looking for at this stage, they all weight the same, just final sanding to do, but all the rough work is donne (hopefully):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZujDV6hs2A4
cheerio
super windy |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BushWhacker |
Posted - 17/04/2008 : 01:07:54
Hi Speo,
That chainsaw blade looks really interesting but I think it has 'You're gonna need stitches!' written all over it for all but experienced angle grinder pilots. I lost the middle (center) half of my left little finger knuckle some 30 years ago cause I got too 'confident' with an angle grinder. It stopped me from playing bass guitar with exceptions of five minutes or so at a time. (not quite a set ;)) I'd hate to think of what could happen with that chainsaw blade.
Have a safe day,
BW
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
| speo |
Posted - 16/04/2008 : 05:51:23
This is what I used for carving the last set of blades. I think it was spinning at 10000 RPM in the angle grinder: http://img.alibaba.com/photo/204208536/Flap_disc.jpg
This tool looks interesting, but it's also very dangerous. A mini chainsaw at 13000 RPM: http://www.katools.com/lancelot.html
Speo
www.windpulse.com |
| gholt |
Posted - 16/04/2008 : 03:50:04
SW,
Very nice work on your blades, and the video is obviously inspiring to us all - thank you!
Bushwhacker is very spot on with his comments about grain deviation (not to mention knots) when it comes to this sort of thing (thank you BW). I believe Speo demonstrated a very acceptable method of lamination in making his wooden blades which allows one to eliminate poor grain and especially knots - well done Speo! www.windpulse.com
Here (the US) we can purchase a specific size of wood commonly known as a 1 x 2 which of course is really 3/4" x 1.5" which is the "dressed" or finished dimension. These are relatively cheap, and make getting some decent clear wood pretty easy. Just cut out the bad sections and laminate the remaining sections (ala Speo) for nice clear lumber. I generally weigh the pieces and distribute them throughout the laminations to come up with blanks of a similar weight when making aircraft parts and it would be nice if the finished blades were of similar finished dimensions and weight when they are done.
I was very impressed with your speed of carving the blades - wow! and no bark left on either, stunning and a video thrown in to boot, you da man.
I guess I'll have to get off my lazy posterior and start laminating ...
SW made me do it,
G. |
| Capt Slog |
Posted - 15/04/2008 : 11:23:10
Looking good. I finished my first set just recently and they're flying now. Hard to believe when you first start on the wood that its going to work, and I found it quite a surprise.
I was reminded when carving of a quote attributed to Michael Angelo (I think). He said something on the lines that:- the figures were already there in the marble, and all he had to do was let them out.
You say that you still have some finishing to do? Have a look around for one of these if you haven't already got one..
http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=41&MAN=Power-Tool-Sanding-Flap-Wheels&MCID=2565&SCID=571
They make very short work of making/sanding internal curves. |
| super windy |
Posted - 15/04/2008 : 07:54:47
cheers guys for your comments I am now off to work but hopefully during this whole week I would love to finish the blades, and fit them in a hub, but with work, wife and kids there just isn't much time left.
Hi larrylawrencejr, cheers for your comments and welcome to gotwind, Iam glad you like the videos, and deep down I know ghurd can't resist a video related to wind power, I am the same, I find myself staring at the computer looking at you tube for new home made turbines, sometimes it gets boring, but I am fedding my brain information and ideas.
bushwacker cheers for comments will check the blade for strength, being made of pine I can always comme across another joist and make a new blade.
cheers
super windy |
| BushWhacker |
Posted - 15/04/2008 : 04:05:29
Hey SW,
Damn fine work in short order! Your blades look quite capable of harnessing wind power.
I do have one concern though, one of your blades (the middle of the three if I recall) had some fairly extensive grain variation near the middle of the blade. I would be inclined to think the integrity of the blade might be compromised. It may have looked worse in the video than real life but all the same I couldn't witness and not comment in clear conscience.
I wish your efforts well and hope you review the blade in question.
Cheers!
BW
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
| speo |
Posted - 15/04/2008 : 03:58:59
Nice blades, super windy. Realy nice.
When I carved the first set of blades, I got frustrated when I had to assemble them into the hub. I cut the roots at 120 degrees to mach a 3 blade pattern, but I coudn't just assemble the blades between two plywood discs. By the time I was tying the screws, they were moving a little bit and I started again and again until I gave up.
I was lucky I still had few marks on the blades, so, I could precisely drill a 3 hole pattern in each blade and 9 corresponding holes in each plywood disc, in such a way, that the blades were interchangeble. After that, it was a joke to assemble the hub with nuts and bolts many times, even swaping blades in different positions.
Before cutting the roots at 120 degress, just as a precaution, you can mark the axis of the blade on its length, and also you can make few marks on the axis, at known distance from the root, just to have a refference later if something goes wrong.
Good job,
Speo
www.windpulse.com |
| larrylawrencejr |
Posted - 15/04/2008 : 00:11:42
Thanks for the video mate! I love your videos. I look almost everyday to see if you have a new one posted. I commented on it. keep them coming. There are people like myself that truely appreciate them.
larry |
| super windy |
Posted - 14/04/2008 : 21:48:32
cheers guys, I think based on ghurd's comments, although he will admit that that he hates watching my videos, and didn't watch this one , that further measuring and going over the blades is necessary, I was planning in doing so, so everything matches correctly, and I think with the size of these blades if balance is off even by a bit the bearings, tower amongst other things will pay the price.
Hi dell, the reason why I'm going for a 3 bladed set up is that in hopefully 2 years time I'am moving abroad and where my house is in portugal, its basically to 7 minutes drive from the beach, so the lowest wind speed you will probably get is 8 to 9 mph, so I am hopping that even if the blades don't do well here in my location, they will for sure in portugal, when I was there last time I made a set of pvc blades and they lasted 2 weeks, made another one and bang that went aswell, the speed that the blades where travelling was amazing, I just used the bearings from a kids old bycicle, but the pvc blades couldn't keep up with the wind.
I will in due time make another small set of wooden blades for the ametek, but after cutting soo much pipe the ones I have on it now are perfect, they are fast, quiet, and good cutting in, it took me awhile to get to these blades, playing with torque and speed, and finally finding these ones that work for my location.
Quote by ghurd:
I won't admit to watching it.
"Quite wide"? Those are really wide.
"Pleased"? No kidding. You are happy with those?
"4 Hours"? Oh boy. I make those in about 20 seconds a set, and I start with an entire 500 year old oak tree (one tree for each blade).
Nice one ghurd, at least I can trust you to put a smile on my face, do you de-bark the 500 year old tree or do you leave the bark on for the perfect airfoil.
cheerio
super windy |
| ghurd |
Posted - 14/04/2008 : 19:57:49
I won't admit to watching it.
"Quite wide"? Those are really wide.
"Pleased"? No kidding. You are happy with those?
"4 Hours"? Oh boy. I make those in about 20 seconds a set, and I start with an entire 500 year old oak tree (one tree for each blade).
Now serious stuff...
Weigh both ends, with the other end supported. Things get crazy, but the balance is much easier later.
Pay attention to the 'tracking' (where the blades pass a point along the OD). When standing next to the blade tips, if the tracking is off much, you can hear each blade, and the "wrong blade" stands out.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Swoosh! Whoosh. Whoosh. Swoosh! Whoosh. Whoosh. Swoosh!
About 24 seconds into the video (the one I did not watch), it looks like tracking could be a bit off.
See the distance between blade #1 and #2, then between #2 and #3? It could limit the performance (slightly, I'm told). The error is less important with low TSR blades (below 5.0).
I fix tracking with a thin washer in the right place.
I was looking for an audio file I can't find, but in a good wind you will hear it if one is "Off".
Don't put too much work into it, but it is something easy to keep in mind.
Those look very nice. I'm sure you will be very happy.
Tell your wife the rabbit died. 
(maybe that's only a US thing?)
G-
|
| Del |
Posted - 14/04/2008 : 19:33:51
Nice job SW, and good for an afternoons work. I can see you getting some people asking you to make a set for them.
Two observations though. Most people seem to say that the 1.8m five blade set up for the Futurenergy PMG is a very good match. Your blades will undoubtedly be fast and look a decent size too. Do you reckon that a three blade set-up will give you the torque you need to transmit the current potential of the PMG bearing in mind the low rpm's that it generates at?
And secondly, if you can whack off a set like that in four hours I think I'd make another set for your Ametek if you're keeping it for a while.
Cheers
Del. |
| gotwind |
Posted - 14/04/2008 : 18:42:09
Good work Windy.
You sounded pretty knackered on the video, thats very good going for 4 or 5 hours work.
No doubt your next set would be even quicker, I would make and sell them if I had the time - Maybe £50 a set, not bad for an afternoons work.
What overall diameter are you reaching for, 6 Ft?
Ben. |
|
|
