Flax Photos

UPDATE: BY THE WAY THIS WAS ALL A WASTE OF TIME!

Mock Up Photos X 2

Term 1 Week 8

During the first of monday's double period, i continued working on my flax stringer which i have previously been working on during the past two weeks. I added a further 10-20cm onto it, then decided to start again, this time cutting the flax length-ways so i only had to do 20cm's worth. On Wednesday I got up to date with our latest checklist, doing my reflections for the past week and updating google calendar. On thursday period 5 I finished my flax stringer and at the end of the period, flattened it. Next week i hope to have cut my flax which is supposed to be laid cross-ways to the already flattened flax, forming a criss-cross pattern, making the board stronger and less likely to break.

Term 1, Week 7

On monday double-period we started practical work on our longboards. We began making a stringer (made of flax) to put in the centre of our boards. We used flax because it hasn't been used before in longboards, meaning we're making something completely original. We were supposedly going to weave the flax but on thursday (after a test) Terry decided we wouldn't need to weave the flax. On Wednesday we were in the computer rooms, getting up to date with our latest checklist. On Thursday we continued with our flax stringer, and i had done around 20cms worth. Next week we have to finish our designs (on the computer) and finish our flax stringer.

Term 1 Week 6

On Monday double-period we finished off our 1/2 scale mock-ups, and got up-to-date with our new checklists. I finished off my prototype freehand design and posted it on Blogger. I also took two pictures with the digital camera of my 1/2 Scale Mock-up. On Wednesday Period 2 we started our assesment 7480 which involved drawing our longboard on Macromedia Freehand and taking screenshots along the way. On Thursday we continued this assignment.

Term 1 Week 5

During Monday double period we were in the com labs researching the tensile strength, shear strength, hardness and ductility of Fibreglass, epoxy resin, plywood and flax. We then published them on our blogs. On Wednesday we began our first practical - creating our 1/2 scale mock-ups of our longboards. We used old labour signs and were expected to put our design on the bottom. On Thursday we continued with our 1/2 scale mock-up. I completed everything except the bottom design which I plan to do on Monday.

Term 1 Week 4

During Monday double period we went on a field trip to Waitangi park. We walked around trying to find a spot where we could skate to fulfill our brief. Once we were there we took two pictures, one of the spot and one with us in the spot where we would later take a picture with our longboard(s). On Wednesday our class had a reliever and worked on a epoxy resin worksheet. And on Thursday we had a reliever again and did a plywood and fibreglass worksheet.

Flax Properties

Flax fiber is extracted from the bast or skin of the stem of the flax plant. Flax fiber is soft, lustrous and flexible. It is stronger than cotton fiber but less elastic.
Hardness
The flax plant is soft and flexy.
Tensile Strength
Flax has high tensile strength, because of the inner fibres.
Shear Strength
Flax has very high shear strength, due to its flexibility and fibres.
Ductility
Fibre from the New Zealand flax plant, Phormium tenax, or Harakeke as it is otherwise known in Maori, has been used to reinforce soil-cement composites in an attempt to improve the strength and ductility of the composite material.

Epoxy Resin

Hardness
The coating dries quickly providing a tough, UV resistant, protective coating with excellent ultimate hardness, and good mar and abrasion resistance.
Shear Strength
When it hardens, the epoxy has very high shear strength.
Tensile Strength
Because Epoxy Resin’s a glue once it dries it has strong tensile strength.
Ductility
Epoxy Resin is very ductile when it’s in its tube but once released and mixed it has little ductility.

Longboard Research Pros/Cons

Plywood Properties

Hardness
Plywood has excellent surface hardness, damage and wear resistance.
Ductility
Plywood has little ductility.
Tensile Strength
Plywood has high tensile strength, resulting in use for practical work
Shear Strength
Because of the special layering, plywood has high shear strength.

Fibreglass Properties

Tensile Strength
Two types of fiberglass most commonly used are S-glass and E-glass. E-glass has good insulation properties and it will maintain its properties up to 1500 degree F(815 deg C). S-glass has a high tensile strength and is stiffer than E-glass
Ductility
However, among the restrictions that fibreglass suffers is a limitation applied to its workability by virtue of its lack of ductility. Ductility allows a material to be pressed and pushed into shape.
Shear Strength
Fiberglass has high shear strength, making it useful to builders and others in trade work.
Hardness
Fibreglass hardness is considered high.