Tuiske 0 #1 October 27, 2016 Ok, who am I and what I have done. I'm Finnish skydiver, not a rigger. I have about 850 jumps under my belt. I think now it's the time to what I have already done. And sorry about my grammar errors. English is not my native language. This is short story of my DIY project, whitch is still going on. About one year ago I was watching NZ Aerosport's new video whitch was introducing new Crossfire 3 project. ( https://vimeo.com/122198278 ). In the video I saw 3d model of the canopy design, and right away I thought that I can do similar 3d model by myself! ..just for fun. I was working only part time at the time so I had lot of time to spent with designing things. I set a goal to design elliptical 9-cell canopy. Here's some pictures of my early design: http://s11.postimg.org/vpqro5yqr/116.jpg http://s18.postimg.org/w5m11j5rd/116_2.jpg http://s18.postimg.org/yo7q27rhl/paine_leikkaus1.jpg My main source for knowledge was google. I read some articles about different airfoils and stuff. I also tried to find as much information as possible by analyzing photos of different canopies and also line trim charts. After a while I thought my desing was ready for some prototyping. I decided to built 1:3,1 scaled model of my canopy. Original size seems to be about 100sqft at that time, so my scaled model was ~10,4 sqft. I get an old tandem canopy from my employer and I took pieces of fabric from that. I printed the patterns to A3 sheets and taped those sheets together for complete patterns. For liseset I used bakers twine thread :) Pictures and video of the prototype: http://s21.postimg.org/lros8m0jb/WP_20150926_16_14_05_Raw_2.jpg http://s21.postimg.org/9eby1pauv/WP_20151001_15_05_55_Raw.jpg http://s4.postimg.org/3lrkim4a5/WP_20151002_11_00_30_Raw.jpg http://s4.postimg.org/4ckaoe6nh/WP_20151002_17_05_04_Raw.jpg http://s4.postimg.org/53d0u690t/WP_20151003_19_52_50_Raw.jpg http://s4.postimg.org/42cs51s19/WP_20151003_22_23_34_Raw.jpg http://s9.postimg.org/bnqvrcotr/WP_20151005_20_15_45_Raw.jpg http://s9.postimg.org/97p2di6r3/WP_20151008_15_02_59_Raw.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOGwG7Ln5TU I tried that small prototype only on the beach in a moderate wind. I didn't drop it from anywhere but I saw some small things I wanted to chance, especially in airfoil. I made it an bit thicker and chanced the shape of the nose a little bit. I done all this during my working holiday year in Austrailia. Now when I'm back at home and winter is coming, I have time to continue my project. My plan is to make airworthy 120sqft 9-cell canopy by myself from zp-fabric.. Or at least try to make :) I know this is not the easiest project to done without almost any experience about rigging but I will try. I have already cut patterns and put order in to Para Gear. Pictures of full size patterns: http://s14.postimg.org/e23n82tj5/WP_20160925_19_23_26_Pro.jpg http://s14.postimg.org/3tb6295hd/WP_20160925_19_23_10_Pro.jpg I'm going to write some updated during building process. To be continued.IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quagmirian 40 #2 October 28, 2016 Good luck. You might want to go bigger in your first jumpable prototype though. My friend made a small canopy for his first design, and he had to chop it: https://vimeo.com/64373524 Making a big canopy allows you to discover and remedy your mistakes quicker and more easily, and also increases the chances of being able to land it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #3 October 28, 2016 I agree. Don't know how big you are but if I was going to spend the time building one I'd play with some thing bigger. Regardless of what you normally jump, square footage above your head is your friend. I'm assuming you've read ^^ guys thread, My Little Project. It's getting really long but he's worked his way through many hurdles in terms of construction fabrics sewing patterns etc. Or hell just e-mail him. He's a nice guy. LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 October 28, 2016 Good point quagmarean, My first kit-parachute was 210 square feet 7-cell. I gained some weight, so my second kit-parachute was a 220 square foot 9-cell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuiske 0 #5 October 28, 2016 I agree with you that it could be wise idea to make bigger one at first. But I wanted to set my goal a bit higher. If some day I can jump with that canopy, it is totally ok if I have to chop it. That only means that there's something wrong in the design. I would test jump it with my main and reserve of course. I have read "my little project" and that is one reason for what I'm now doing. That is awesome thread. I also wanted to try that is it possible to make patterns straight from 3d model and that is working fine. It makes many things way easier. Lenghts for the lineset is also measured from the 3d model. My current canopy is stiletto 107. 120 is biggest what I can put to my container 8D. My exit weight is about 74kg so wl will be 1,35 with 120sqft canopy.IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuiske 0 #6 October 28, 2016 I got mail today.IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #7 October 28, 2016 Based on your weight I'd start with some thing in the 170 range or even a bit bigger. You can always load it up. Put on a weight vest. Depending on how you're cutting your panels, it probable wont be that much more fabric. It doesn't scale directly. I think you'll find a more direct correlation between cord length and fabric then surface area. The rest is wastage any way. And cord changes with the sqr root of surface so not that much more fabric for a bigger canopy. There will be much bigger "steps" in fabric with changes in lay out at some point with size but I don't think you're in that range. And bigger canopies are easier to build. Errors stay constant with size. So for a bigger canopy they become negligible or at least much smaller. with smaller canopies every thing gets more critical. And there seems to be a disproportionate change related to canopy volume. How much air is actually in the canopy. I seem to recall that Aerodyne used that in sizing of their CRW canopies at one time. Bottom line, a small canopy, you don't have to squeeze a lot of air out of it to collapse it. Not saying that any thing looks bad in your design. Just saying small is less forgiving. Look around for an old rig out of some ones closet. or build your self a belly rig and jump any size canopy you want. Built my self a new one last week and jumped it on Tuesday. LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #8 October 28, 2016 And he's off and running! Quag, you're inspiring a whole new generation of designers. I think this makes two. Before you know it there will be a whole new crop of manufactures cropping up at every drop zone. You'll be buying your canopy from the local rigger. I can't wait till they start selling kits like they used to. Build your own canopy! It will be just like kit planes or ultra lights. You can buy the plans and print them out. Or for a bit more you can get the peaces pre cut in the mail. Just sew it together. Who has spare time on their laser cutter? LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #9 October 29, 2016 Who's local cut shop has spare time on their laser cutting table? The future includes designers e-mailing cut files to your local cut shop. You provide a bolt of fabric and go home with cut pieces complete with alignment marks and panel numbers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpsalot-2 3 #10 October 29, 2016 And line sets, of course .... Life is short ... jump often. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dks13827 3 #11 October 29, 2016 Quag, Nice video in the COLD !!! Where was that ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #12 October 30, 2016 dks13827Quag, Nice video in the COLD !!! Where was that ? .................................................................................... Did Nick Burden say WHY he cutaway his home-made parachute? I suspect that the colours clashed with the rest of his wardrobe. Hah! Hah! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,419 #13 October 30, 2016 Hi Rob, QuoteDid Nick Burden say WHY he cutaway his home-made parachute? The last time that Nick was here at my place ( about 2 yrs ago ) we discussed a MARD-like device that he wanted to develop. Maybe it was simply a test of one of his devices. Jerry Baumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
accumack 14 #14 October 30, 2016 Below the video he said it stalled at shoulder level and didn't want broken legs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #15 October 30, 2016 And it was ugly. Would you want to be seen landing that canopy? Did you see the colors in that thing. Must have used every scrap of rejected fabric in the shop. All of it left over from the late 80's and 90's. Even the risers were hideous things. LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpsalot-2 3 #16 October 30, 2016 The people on the ground were probably thinking .... Hey, is that a Turd falling out of the sky ? Life is short ... jump often. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bicyclejim 0 #17 October 31, 2016 What software package are you using to model and print your design? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuiske 0 #18 November 30, 2016 I haven't done much since last post. But few days ago I started to cut panels and all ribs are now cutted (still have to cut cross ports). I used 1,5x3m sized piece of plywood for cutting table. I used modified 100W soldering iron for cutting and it worked pretty well. Here is few pics for update.IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #19 November 30, 2016 You can use a smaller soldering iron. One of the pencil always on ones works fine. You can get a special cutting head or just get a largish one and hammer and file the point flat. some thing equivalent to this... http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000170/S7583C/HOT-KNIFE-HANDLE-ONLY http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000170/S7580A/HOT-KNIFE-ELEMENT-AND-CUTTING-TIP http://www.paragear.com/skydiving/10000170/S7601T/REPLACEMENT-TIP-FOR-HOT-KNIFE-ELEMENT It doesn't show much info like wattage but it's one of the beefy ones with decent power and the tip gives you thermal mass. It's easier to use the the gun type. LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuiske 0 #20 November 30, 2016 RiggerLeeor just get a largish one and hammer and file the point flat. This is exactly what I already did 😊IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RiggerLee 61 #21 November 30, 2016 Sorry, I meant to say easier to use THEN the gun type. LeeLee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quagmirian 40 #22 November 30, 2016 Nice. I look forward to seeing pictures of it put together. How are you transferring information like V tape locations and non loaded seams onto the fabric? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 2,241 #23 November 30, 2016 RiggerLeeSorry, I meant to say easier to use THEN the gun type. Lee Lee, the word you were looking for is "than". I love your posts, your spelling is part of your charm. Don't correct yourself anymore, just go with it.Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuiske 0 #24 December 9, 2016 QuagmirianNice. I look forward to seeing pictures of it put together. How are you transferring information like V tape locations and non loaded seams onto the fabric? I marked locations from paper patterns to fabric with small waterproof pen. You may see those marking from some photos I uploaded. All the tapes are now sewn and cross ports are also done. I cutted cross ports with regular small soldering iron. I sharpen it with file and it worked fine. Here's few more photos...IG @skydive_tuke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alexg3265 0 #25 December 9, 2016 sew your load tapes on the loaded ribs all the way off the edge and then hot knife them flush with the edge. That will melt and lock in the threads as well as having the tapes go into the topseam and prevent fraying and unraveling... looking good!I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
