SKI PRESS DIY PNEUMATIC MACHINE

thingiverse

DIY PNEUMATIC MACHINE TO PRESS AND MAKE SKIS. The machine is designed to press ski on by and can make also fat ski ( mold width = 20 cm) This homemade machine include: * A frame made of steel for the bottom part (to guaranty the flatness of the ski base), in my case top frame part is made of wood to save cost. * A bottom mold made of wood with a removable camber element * A top mold also made of wood with removable center element. Both molds have an expandable design in order to vary the ski length. * The traction elements placed on the side are made of 10 mm road screws. * A pneumatic element (made of fire pipe) is insert between the top and bottom molds to compress the ski again the bottom mold. The press is also equipped with 2 home made heated blankets to cure faster the composite inside the ski. This is not mandatory but insure better ski quality. One blanket is placed on top of the bottom mold (bellow a metal plate to insure that the composite in not damaging the blanket) and the other one is placed on top of another metal sheet on top of the ski. The blankets are PID powered by 220 V. You will find CAD files: TOP AND BOTTOM MOLDS HEATED BLANKET SKI DESIGN (Telemark ski of course) To press: Step 1 : place all ski components on top of ski bottom mold Step 2: place the pipe, the top mold and close the frame Step 3: inflate around 1 bar to remove excess of resin Step 3: Heat to 90 °C and inflate with 3 to 5 bars air pressure during 30 mm to cure the resine. Step 4: Cool down and keep 1 bar air pressure until ski temp is around 30°C (may take few hours). To easy the process the ski wood core is around 20 cm with like the base element (ski base + edge+ outside base), the fiberglass is about the same width. After curing and pressing, you cut along the edge ski a electric jigsaw => the wood core is visible on the ski side walls. Enjoy.