I don't know about the scuba fin numbers, but I know that Stratasys sells a
flexible material for the FDM machines. From their web page:
"Elastomer (E20)
This thermoplastic polyester-based elastomer has been developed for
applications in a variety of industries where mechanical strength and
durability are required for flexible components. It has a flex modulus of
20,000 psi, making it ideal for applications such as seals, bushings,
protective boots, hose and tubing, and impact-absorbing devices. Industries
such as automotive, electronic, appliance and power tool, sporting goods,
footwear and off-road transportation frequently require models and
prototypes which closely approximate end materials. E20 allows users to
model and test their flexible designs much earlier in the design process. "
-Justin Kidder
University of Pittsburgh
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi [mailto:owner-rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi]On Behalf
> Of Marshall Burns
> Sent: Monday, November 08, 1999 10:03 AM
> To: RP-ml@bart.lpt.fi
> Subject: Flexible materials for scuba fin
>
>
> Hi folks,
>
> First question: Does anyone know the technical numbers that
> describe the
> material properties required of a SCUBA FIN? Properties such as modulus,
> elongation, tensile and flexural strength, etc. and also surface
> smoothness?
> Primarily, I see a need for a material that combines being SOFT and
> TOUGH, but I'd like to be able to express that quantitatively if I can.
>
> Second question: How close are we to being able to deliver those
> properties straight out of a fabber today? Many of you are experienced in
> using flexible materials on today's fabbers (SLA, Sinterstation,
> maybe some
> on LOM). How close could you come to making a scuba fin that you could put
> on your foot and go diving in?
>
> I'm not talking about a secondary process that casts in a different
> material after fabbing a mold or master on the fabber. I'm talking only
> about materials that come directly out of the machine.
>
>
> (This posting carries on with the discussion last week about direct
> manufacturing of products in fabbers. I've told you that I'm writing about
> this for an upcoming issue of the RP Report. You may have seen a TV
> commercial by UPS that shows a scuba fin being delivered from an Internet
> vendor by a fabber in the customer's home. I'll be writing about how far
> that fantasy is from becoming reality. Thanks for your help with
> my research
> on it.)
>
> Best regards,
> Marshall Burns
> President, Ennex Corporation
>
> Marshall@Ennex.com
> Los Angeles, USA, (310) 824-8700
> www.Ennex.com
>
>
>
> For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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