Oil sucks, wind blows.
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I have been moving my better projects into my diary. But while I did draw up the plans for the PVC Pipe Props, Zubbly was
the one that pretty much invented them. This is why they are called ZubWoofer Props. So instead of reposting the Prop plans
in my diary, I decided to post the history and evolution of these props. Some fo the pictures in the earlier posts don't
show up because Zubbly was also learning how to post pictures at this time too.
Zubbly invents the PVC props and first mentions that he is making Props from Pipehttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/9/7/16254/83196
Some of Zubbly's first descriptions of the Props he is makinghttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/10/5/185824/882
The first good pictures of the PVC Props and discussion of durabilityhttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/10/19/171250/17
Plans are starting to emerge and Wooferhound is posting Drawings Toohttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/10/25/020/94523
Wooferhound starts making Props and makes a 4 Blade versionhttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/10/29/17144/245
After talking on IRC chat Wooferhound decides to Draw Plans for the propshttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/11/11/172721/53
Wooferhound makes PVC Savinous experimenthttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/12/1/122243/608
And that is why they are called ZubWoofersIt's really cool for me because I am seeing pictures of them from all over the world
Recently 'stevesteve' a user in the UK wrote a computer program that greatly simplifys the measurements needed to cut one of
these blades out of the pipe. You can download the program from this storyhttp://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/4/17/6437/83378
Happy first time cheap prop building from Wooferhound
Glennwww.thebackshed.com
Should be OK for you. The calculator just works out the width of the paper template for required angles for a particular pipe diameter (angles and diameter set to your requirements).
I'm intending to do something similar myself. I am trying to locate some larger diameter pipe in the UK. I can only get 4" so far.
Cheers, Steve
Might have to sand the blades thinner, because at a 10 inch diameter, the pipe's going to be kinda thick.
Don't know whether shipping would kill you, but these guys have quite the selection.....
http://www.pipeplus.com
On the other hand a 3' or 4' section would do so I might cruise the local building sites touting for offcuts!
Windyknight, the only reason I made this a 4 blade setup was for use of material VS. strength. It was a whole lot easier than building a fancy hub and bolting everything together.
I have no scientific data to support it but from what I have read here in the last couple months I would be willing to bet I would get better performance from 3 blades. It has to do with what I call "Prop wash". At higrer rpm's the air is still disturbed when one follows the other at 90 degrees apart. With 3 you have 120 degrees between them allowing a bit more time for the air to settle back into it's path, thereby creating more power.
Of course, the swept area would be smaller, limiting the power factor and the startup speed so the low rpm performance would be slightly less. I guess it is a bit of a tradeoff and without some real test figures it is all theory.
Here is useful info Alise