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Forum Index : Windmills : Aerofoil 1.2m blade
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Trev Guru  Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
The start of these blades is in Glenns diary (My Diary) 19th Nov, Another way to make blades? Stuart, it is now in progress, hang in and I will add these new blades to the White Pointer for you. Drilled a hole in the end of the stainless steel and had it hang on a piece of wire to eliminate any side pressure. This is to ensure that the angles are correct. Each rib was glued individually, one at a time, and the stainless steel lifted off the wire to slide the rib on. A long tedious job. Left for a day for glue to dry. Modified the hub mount end to fit in with the cone. And then to get this on I needed to remove the stainless steel and cut it. In the process ended up with 4 peices of the blade. It is vey soft and flexible. Anyhow cut the stainless steel and fitted back in and glued up all the breaks again. Puttied where needs to be and started sanding off.  
 
Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Trev, looking good so far. You must have worked overtime on the laser cutter. I have made many hotwire cut foam model plane wings with bagged epoxy carbon glass skins. I can appreciate the time to get an accurate profile. The profile looks similar to the Lakota blades I adapted to fit my mill. Keep up the fine work. cheers, Gordon. become more energy aware |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Maybe I've been single for to long, but I think that blade looks kinda sexy 
Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
- Sanded off the MDF. - A light smear of filler over the entire surface. Sanded off. - Spray putty and sanded. - More filler and sanded. - Final spray putty and sanded. - Sprayed white 2 pack. Just the usual stuff in pattern making! And all takes time. Time to do the work and time to let it dry!Pictures may not be in any particular order.  
 
 
 
Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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Gill Senior Member Joined: 11/11/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 669 |
Trev, I like the long cord near the root. That's got to improve efficiency and make for easier startup. Most impressive. 
By the way, love those stands. I have a set just like them at my place, but mine are the earlier model that don't go quite that hight.   was working fine... til the smoke got out. Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
First mould half is made and cleaned up. Second half is glassed, due off the blade tomorrow.  
 
Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1453 |
Hiya Trev, Mate both Glenn and yourself have done a great job on those blades, now the question is how much how 4 sets of the blades, as after our street meeting with the cfs yesterday I'm setting up a work party and we're making some dual axial flux gennies. I reckon those blades will be a perfect match it will just come down to pricing. Cheers Bryan. |
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| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Bryan, I can probably give you some free advice wrt axial flux designs. You can send an email to me through Gizmo if you wish to talk about anything. cheers, Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| dwyer Guru Joined: 19/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 574 |
HI Tev and Gimzo All l could say to both of you done extemly well on this design on making those lovely blades this take alot of working in the head and times to come up at the right time . 
dwyer the bushman |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
2nd half of the mould removed and cleaned up. The plug blade didn't fair quite as good. paint blistered and peeled and cracked the blade again in 3 places. Not to worry, it has done it's job. Both halves of the mould rubbed out with 1200 grit wet/dry paper and polished. Locators fitted. Release waxed, polished off, PVA released & gelcoated, cut glass, lay fine (200gsm)woven glass and green trim, lay 630gsm woven and green trim, lay glass on end cap mould, lay 4 layers each mould half of 630gsm for hub mounting, mix glue, wipe on, join together and remove the blade. So there you have it, the whole process to make one blade in one paragraph. Unfortunately it's not that simple. It does take time. And the first White Pointer to get these new blades. There are 2 of these on the go at the moment. Both sold. Price for the blades only, I am yet to work it out.  
 
 
 
 
  Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Looks good Trev. Are you going to try them on your own windmill before you sell them? I'm really keen to find out how they perform. So when do you want me to CAD up and laser cut a set for a 3 meter diameters turbine? 
Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
Hi all, Special price for members of the back shed, a set of these 1.2m blades is $360. Hub to match with F&P spline is $140. GWatPE, just curious, how much did you pay for the lakota blades?? Thanks for all the compliments guys, it makes me feel better after a days rubbing with the sanding block !! Glenn if you want to feel one, you are welcome ... sexy?? Don't forget, I have already done that plenty....after sanding you know, gotta feel how smooth. Marcy said the other day that I don't take as many pictures of her as I do the blade either. Glenn, for the 3m diameter, how's after Christmas sound. That will give you a few weeks to draw it up. I will test them as soon as I can, but these 2 have been ordered. Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Trev, The Lakota blades were I think $460.00. 1m blade length and Carbon, very rigid and light weight. I cannot really fault them. I get 455W MAX from them on my genny. Actually yesterday was a pretty good day with 400W achieved, but average 250-300W. Wind is like that with a MPPT. cheers, Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
Thanks Gordon for the info. Here is a pic of the blades all assembled. 
Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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| Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 676 |
Finally got one of these machines in the air for myself. Here is Glenn's Testing. Thanks Glenn. Some observations Performance is good. Starts up in light winds. Gets up to speed fairly quickly. Some noise, mostly at higher RPM or in wind speed changes or wind direction changes. Unfortunately my wind speed guage has died and so don't know any corelation between wind speed and amps. I have seen as high as 18amps into my 12v battery bank. I have never seen my 1m f/glass composite blades get this high! They are definately and improvement for power production. The White Pointer 2.5 was put up in the rain, hence pictures are taken in the rain. Glenn are you working on the profiles for those longer blades. 
 
Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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