straight epoxy molding?
01-03-2005, 02:22 AM
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straight epoxy molding?
hey guys i was playing with a ducted fan i got today and decided to make a semi-composite intake duct
it started life as a block of craft styrofoam from michaels, i carved the shape into the foam. originally i was gonna leave it as a foam only intake duct and just build the plane around it. i then got the bright idea to coat the interior surface with 5-min epoxy. ok this is cool sand, coat, sand, coat, sand. and it turns out nice and smooth and shiny. ok then i weigh it and its up 40g from the base ducted fan unit... ok so i start carving off the excess foam. do one side by hand then get the dreme out with a siderouting drill bit. much styrofoam dust later im left with only the epoxy shape. kinda a roundabouot way. i guess its an investment casting?
anyway here is the result, you guys have any tips to get the surface finish better or to make it lighter
[link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan1.jpg]
[/link][link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan2.jpg]
[/link]
[link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan3.jpg]
[/link][link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan4.jpg]
[/link]
oh the ducted fan is a gws edf-50
it ended up adding 20g would it be lighter to make it outta fiberglass or carbon fiber?
anyway im proud of how it came out for no planning and a first atempt.
it started life as a block of craft styrofoam from michaels, i carved the shape into the foam. originally i was gonna leave it as a foam only intake duct and just build the plane around it. i then got the bright idea to coat the interior surface with 5-min epoxy. ok this is cool sand, coat, sand, coat, sand. and it turns out nice and smooth and shiny. ok then i weigh it and its up 40g from the base ducted fan unit... ok so i start carving off the excess foam. do one side by hand then get the dreme out with a siderouting drill bit. much styrofoam dust later im left with only the epoxy shape. kinda a roundabouot way. i guess its an investment casting?
anyway here is the result, you guys have any tips to get the surface finish better or to make it lighter
[link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan1.jpg]
[/link][link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan2.jpg][/link][link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan3.jpg]
[/link][link=http://www.geocities.com/ebola0001/fan4.jpg][/link]oh the ducted fan is a gws edf-50
it ended up adding 20g would it be lighter to make it outta fiberglass or carbon fiber?
anyway im proud of how it came out for no planning and a first atempt.
01-03-2005, 02:03 PM
#2
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RE: straight epoxy molding?
HI BEEN BUILDING FANS FOR A 100 YEARS,, I HAVE USED FLOWER POTS,VASES,GLASSES,FOR INLETS..{FOR MOLDS}.. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?? THIS IS ONLY GOOD FOR TEST BENCH..A GOOD INTAKE DESIGN WILL MAKE FAN PERFORM MUCH BETTER.. YOU MADE A VOLOCITY STACK..AIR SPEED IN THIS AREA IS VERY FAST,,SMOOTH AND GENTLE BENDS.. RD
01-03-2005, 08:59 PM
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RE: straight epoxy molding?
i was told when i bought it that i would need to make an intake for it, this is the first thing that came to mind. is a velocity stack not what i need? what should i be whooting for intake wise are there any documents on how to figure out intake geometry to improve fan performance?
end result would be to enable to fan to efficiently suck air from around a large brick (nose of plane)
oh i will be building another intake tonight for a different fan that i bought wattage 400/6 i am going to swap the motor out with a 480 i have should be fun
end result would be to enable to fan to efficiently suck air from around a large brick (nose of plane)
oh i will be building another intake tonight for a different fan that i bought wattage 400/6 i am going to swap the motor out with a 480 i have should be fun
