Sleeves are fine, but the problem remains. When you bag or tape them, the diameter gets smaller and the fibres kink, although their solution of starting the heat shrinking in the middle may get round this. No problem for hand layup. Pulling a sleeve tight is not as good as bagging or taping. The spandex is a cool idea, but doubt it has enough grunt to apply much pressure.
A wing sleeve on a round mast has some potential. Needs a nose piece on the mast and a soft sleeve (batten problems) or a solid sleeve, ideally on bearings. Suspect it will be heavier and not as efficient as a wing mast. For a given thickness, a square shape is stronger than a circular, so a wing will use lee carbon for the same stiffness as a tube.
rob
On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 6:36 AM, George Kuck <chesapeake410@yahoo.com > wrote:
From: Rob Denney <harryproa@gmail.com >
Subject: Re: [harryproa] Wing mast on stub?
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Currently making them in 2 pieces and joining them. No mould required. Infusion definitely possible. 3 pieces is possible, but more work, and the joins are difficult. I don't like laying off axis fibres on male moulds as when it is compacted, the fibres kink as they conform to the smaller diameter. No need to if all the laminate is done in one hit in a half section. I will be using carbon and ve for the infusion of the wing mast for Sol, will post pictures, hopefully round Xmas.
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