Non Build Mods

Peel Strength Tests 2

Date:  12-22-2013
Number of Hours:  4
Manual Reference:  

Test 2 22/12/13 after 1 week cure

All Blocks 8.2grams before layup 5” X 2.3”=11.5sq “ Blue Wing foam off-cuts
Peel force was measure by a cheap spring scale hooking under the foam and pulling consistently at an angle of about 150degrees down

micro Weight Saving Peel Force Spread

1.1g 0.06 micro 17.6 zero(base) 6-7lbs very runny slurry

2. 1g 0.12 micro 17.6 zero 12

3. 1g 0.14 micro 16.9 – 0.7 12 nice easy spread

4. 1g 0.16 micro 16.5 -0.9 8

5. 1g 0.18 micro 16.6 -1.0 10 heavy spread, good fill

6. 1g 0.20 micro 16.7 -0.9 10 still just OK

7. 1g 0.22 micro 16.1 -1.5 10 very stiff

8. 1g 0.24 micro 17.1 -0.5 10

9. 1g 0.26 micro 17.2 -0.4 8-10 needs heat to mix

10. 1g 0.28 micro 17.0 -0.6 12 unusable, too stiff to mix

 

Conclusions
Around #5 seems a good mix with a 1 gram saving.
(#7 seems an anomaly in the weight numbers)
Peel strength is consistent with more epoxy (slurry) being weakest, testing was with an old spring scale and not accurate.

All mixes broke at the foam with more foam residue on #1 the rest were not dramatically less and were consistent. The very thick micro tends to ball up just a little under the glass which suggests it fills the holes more completely. Note that the very thick micro tends to be heavier as more is applied despite trying to keep the spread even..

 

Long-EZ Wing area is given as 81.99 sq feet (this is pretty close to plans for just the wing without strakes) call it 82sq’ (I got 82.1 doing a rough calc using plans page19-10)

Call this 164sq’ of blue foam upper and lower

Saving to be 1 gram per 11.5sq” or per 0.077sq foot
164 /0.077 = 2130grams = 4.7 pounds saving over the wings of a LE

This saving is compared to the plans ‘slurry’ mixture of about 1:1 by volume

Peel test in action

Thinnest and thickest similar

sample #5 0.18 looks good

iPad Mount for Inflight Use 1

Date:  03-01-2015
Number of Hours:  2
Manual Reference:  no ref

I need to document my inflight mini iPad solution. The problem is holding an ipad steady in flight, getting it at any angle where it can be read under different circumstances or light conditions, stopping the pad from overheating, holding it steady in turbulence and keeping it out of the way while still readable and taking up zero panel space.

My solution is using a modified knee board and slightly modified RAM mount.

Materials:
Knee/thigh board (or make one),
Ram-B-201U-A (short double socket for 1″ balls)
Two RAM-B-202U (male 1″ ball mounts)
RAM-HOL-AP14U (iPad mini3 holder)
AN525-416R10
iPad mini smart cover

1. Get a knee board or make your own from some curved metal and a strap with velcro
2. Drill a .25″ hole in the center of the curved metal board
3. Drill and tap a thread for AN525-416R10 into one of the RAM-B-202U and secure this to the thigh board using locktite. Some foam between the mount and curved metal worked for me.
4. Set the other hardware as pictured
5. Trim the iPad holder as in pic 3 to allow the smart cover. Do this very carefully so the cover jams in place when the ipad is installed yet remains easy to remove.
6. Trim the smart cover to fully close over the iPad (see pics in next entry)

iPad hardware

AN525-416R10 in place

Holder trimmed, note the RHS edge

iPad Mount for Inflight Use 2

Date:  03-02-2015
Number of Hours:  2
Manual Reference:  no ref

Details are in ‘iPad Mount for inflight 1’ (previous entry)

The pics here show that the mount allows the cover to still be used or removed and that the iPad because of the RAM mounts can be at any angle to improve readability. I will leave the cover on sometimes if its very hot when taxiing and certainly after exiting the plane if I’m leaving it in the cockpit for a while.

(As a side note it is now a couple of years later (November 2017) and I always fly with this thing strapped to my leg in the Long-EZ. Works for me. )

Cover attached but open if required

Cover closed fully, trimmed to fit

Any ‘useable’ angle can be achieved