Fw: Formica REVISOIN

["Chris Crouch" <eccrouch@cpol.net>]

Sorry about the grammatically incorrect letter sent it out accidentally this
afternoon. I am ashamed that my name was attached to it, you couldn't tell
it from reading it but English is my 1'st and only language. For those who
would like an interpretation of me letter.(I have laughed students papers
off of my desk and they sounded like the Gyettsburg Address compared to what
I wrote).

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Crouch <eccrouch@cpol.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Date: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: Formica

Over last summer I helped little 7 man company in MD made a couple of
different molds and some prototype composite parts. We used formica as a
mold surface, which was usually attached to the mold frame which consisted
of sheet plywood supported by framed of 2x4's with rubber cement adhesive.
It is good for 5 to 10 parts.
Formica (hi gloss) was one of the easiest molds I have ever had the pleasure
of pulling apart. The biggest part the company I worked for has ever made
was a propeller for a Navy Flat top.
While I was there we made 4 or 5 scaled hulls for a Boston's group sail boat
entry for the America's Cup to do some water dynamic tests in Annapolis. The
largest part I helped with was a composite mold for sound dampening panels
on the Navy's nuclear subs. We also did some work on the air bladders of an
Alvin (we received a the plastic bladder and covered it with woven glass and
epoxy buffed it coated it and sent it away). I also got to work on a
Bookstore center piece (2,000 gallon aquarium for a Dalton's Bookstore that
was being put in the MD bay area).

One important note about formica: when pulling the mold off of the formica
be prepared for a serious static buildup. One guy has gotten hit so hard
that he won't come out on the shop floor during the winter time.

Good luck and sorry about the confusion
Chris
>-----Original Message-----
>From: D. Blake <dblake@bright.net>
>To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>Date: Monday, November 01, 1999 10:57 PM
>Subject: Formica
>
>

>>Hello Chris:
>>Are you suggesting a Formica surface for the hull?  What would the process
>>involve in laminating the surface material to the fiberglass pressure
hull?
>>As a teenager, I worked for a company called Allied Sinktop on Kingston
>Ave.
>>in Columbus, Ohio.  I made so many Wendy's newsprint cafe tables, I saw
>them
>>in my sleep.  We laminated the formica to a particle board base by way of
a
>>2-part adhesive under heat and vacuum.  How do you imtend, or suggest the
>>same process be applied to a pressure hull as Paul suggests?
>>Don't get me wrong, the idea of applying a bulletproof material like
>formica
>>as a surface treatment sounds exciting.  Especially with the wide variety
>of
>>patterns available.  It just seems unusual.
>>Big Dave
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Chris Crouch <eccrouch@cpol.net>
>>To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>>Date: Monday, November 01, 1999 10:57 PM
>>Subject: Re: Nuclear sub
>>
>>
>>>Hey Paul,
>>>    I am a plastics Major working on designing a sub. Have to agree
>>>reinventing the wheel is more fun than applying existing technology, but
I
>>>got my head full of information just trying to make heads or tails of it
>>>all. If I can give you any help on your sub let me know. I can tell you
>>that
>>>as far as finishes go on subs laminating on formica surfaces will give
you
>>>mirror like finishes, if I can help let me know. I did a summer of
>>>composites work in MD doesn't make me an expert but I have gotten my
hands
>>>dirty on a lot of fun projects.
>>>
>>>Chris
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Paul Suds <paul_suds@hotmail.com>
>>>To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
>>>Date: Monday, November 01, 1999 4:18 PM
>>>Subject: Nuclear sub
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi guys. I usually can't wait to get on the net and read your e-mails.
>>>>Unfortunately, the Nuclear Plant where I work has been refueling for the
>>>>last month, and I haven't had time to read all the e-mails. I've just
>>spent
>>>>the last hr reading all the e-mails. As the kids say "cool". I think
I've
>>>>missed out on some good discussions. Too bad we can't use some of that
>>>spent
>>>>nuclear fuel with it's decay heat as a fuel source, ha.
>>>>I've finally finished my clay model of my sub. I plan on making the
final
>>>>unit out of fiber glass and epoxy impregnated fiber. I also saw some of
>>>your
>>>>e-mails on propulsion. I've done a myriad of calcs, and think I can get
>>>>about 13 knotts for an hr. I've found a couple of web sites on jet pumps
>>>>(www.solas.com) and the australians have a sport called jet boating
>>>>(jetsprint.org). I've also talked to some fellow engineers at bombadier
>>and
>>>>have gotten some old design guides for the impeller and volute. I plan
on
>>>>making a variable pressure cavitation tunnel to test my propulsion
>device.
>>>>This may sound like reinventing the wheel, but hey I enjoy it, and I
tend
>>>to
>>>>learn more this way.
>>>>Now if I could only get some of that spent nuclear fuel..... Suds
>>>>
>>>>______________________________________________________
>>>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>>
>