COMPOSITES:

If you want to make prototypes with interesting characteristics relating the weight-to-rigidity ratio, the execution time and the freedom of forms, the experience in composite materials becomes very important. It is useless listing all the possible execution possibilities, in this sector there are no limits to the designers' or purchasers' imagination and inventiveness. For example, let's consider a located stress moving to the structure, even with a violent stress, such as might be the base of the mast in a surf board landing from a wave. In this case you can give a rigidity always decreasing, as much as you leave the stress point, so that the pressure remains constant. In this way you avoid stress accumulation and excess weight. One of the production techniques to have a prototype without spending too much time and money is that of using no counter-proof but working on the male connector. In short, you model a piece of polystyrene or polyurethane and stratify it with carbon, glass or kevlar, both separately and together, depending on your needs. To further increase the characteristics of the object, if it has an important structural function, you can apply a PVC foam with a vacuum bag thus creating, after the final lamination, the so called "sandwich". Note that you can practically incorporate any type of insert. The pictures show a few moments in the construction of a wave windsurf board with a volume of about 100 litres that can sustain a surfer who weights about 80 kg. and a sail of 10-12 kg. An object weighting less than 6 kg. including paint and anti-skid, subject to the stress created by the impact with the wave and the jumps … this is a solution practically impossible to achieve with conventional constructions in the mechanic field.

This is only an example of the many possibilities offered by this sector; let's consider for instance the possibility of seeing a finished cover case or other aesthetic parts, which can be touched and evaluated. The achieved object has a perfect finishing. From the mechanical point of view these parts can be given to diesinker for the mass production, or you can work on counter-proofs to get components made of foamed polyurethane, rather than driving those people working with metal sheets crazy in trying to achieve a piece of art! That's a big step forward.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MAX AND PIERRE