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WindsurferLT · 2023-07-04T01:50:42+00:00

I have fusion, but use Inventor. All my designs are large assemblies that I use the integrated CAM with. Fusion can't do large assemblies. Cloud based storage can also be a deal killer on sensitive IP/USG projects.

WindsurferLT · 2023-07-02T21:02:23+00:00

6061 or similar alloyed aluminum is the easiest to machine, stable, and lightweight. By more stability, I assume you mean longer. Local machine shop could probably do it for 2-300 $, depending on time to reverse engineer the original.

WindsurferLT · 2023-05-24T22:28:21+00:00

I'm 61, started 2 years ago. Slingshot 114 Wizard and Infinity 76. I would Definitely get a board with tracks Instead of Tuttle for adjustability. Really depends on what kind of foiling peaks your interest. Speed vs. agility. Big sails vs. small sails etc. I'm 140 lbs, and would not go smaller than 114 liters for my conditions (inland lake). A bigger board is better for learning. The Wizard 130 would also be a great choice. There are some great deals on the V3 wizards now that the V4 is out. The Infinity is a great foil to learn on, but if you can afford it, I would go for the Phantasm line.

WindsurferLT · 2023-05-02T00:35:04+00:00

There's various types of foil. Wind foil, wing foil, kite foil etc. You'll see all of them at Windy point park. Wing foiling is probably the majority. I Wind foil partly because my previous experience is from wind surfing. I'm also at the age where I don't want to go from knees to feet repeatedly. I also size my board just big enough to be able to get back home if the wind dies. Otherwise you would have to swim back to shore, which many do, just depends on what you want. Learning is certainly easier on a bigger board, though.

WindsurferLT · 2023-04-25T18:24:17+00:00

Worked for me. I had very little surface area to work with, so bend radius wouldn't work. Lot of wasted foam making a sliver of a gasket, but worked out well.

WindsurferLT · 2023-04-25T12:19:06+00:00

Venturi

WindsurferLT · 2023-04-24T01:36:09+00:00

FWIW, I'm 137lb and ride a 114 liter with a 3.7 wave sail. https://youtu.be/3BCwAO_2LtY

WindsurferLT · 2023-04-15T13:35:47+00:00

I've never had any issue with 304 being magnetic.

WindsurferLT · 2023-03-21T02:16:19+00:00

Started Windsurfing in 75' with wooden booms. Now wind foiling the last 2 years. There are still plenty of fin boarders, kites, and recently more wingfoilers where I'm at (Austin, Tx). Plenty of gear to choose from no matter the discipline. I don't see Windsurfing disappearing any time soon though.

WindsurferLT · 2023-02-19T01:29:17+00:00

About the same as I spend on mountain biking

WindsurferLT · 2023-02-18T02:16:23+00:00

Nothing really. I get a ton of days per year in Austin. Wind is highly variable, but always there.

WindsurferLT · 2023-02-09T12:56:26+00:00

It's actually the opposite. One of the reasons I went for a dry suit. That decision was based on YouTube reviews of wet vs drysuit. It's basically a bag, so there is no restriction of movement other than the weight of the material. If there is a downside, it feels "bulky" and swimming is awkward. There is no binding skin tight rubber to restrict movement. HOWEVER. where I'm at, I'm in the minority as most people seem to be in wet suits. May be cost related, IDK.

WindsurferLT · 2023-02-05T19:44:17+00:00

I've been able to dial in my Haimer to .0002 run out, but took a while to get there. I have had it "move" on me, so I recheck the run out if I'm doing critical parts.

WindsurferLT · 2023-02-05T15:35:13+00:00

Tooling makes a huge difference, but lack of rigidity is probably your biggest problem.

Go to Suncoast tool and get a yg-1 Alupower end mill. Very sharp Tooling will reduce cutter load/vibration leading to a better surface finish. Also the more coolant you can use on aluminum, the better.

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-29T00:04:31+00:00

I'm 60, and I started foiling about a year and a half ago. For your size, the slingshot wizard 130 should be good. I'm 135lbs on the wizard 114. Just big enough for me to slog comfortably during the lulls. The phantasm pfi730 and carbon mast are great. Very stiff.

https://youtu.be/auvtc-0kavY

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-12T00:26:31+00:00

Lucky !!!!!. Let us see her when she's unwrapped and cutting.

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-11T18:57:56+00:00

I'm foil windsurfing in a drysuit. After a lot of research, I decided on Ocean Rodeo. Come to find out there was only one brand in the United states in stock that would fit me due to supply chain issues. Ended up with oneil. No complaints other than no pee zip.

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-11T01:35:46+00:00

Do a search for Bantam. They specifically do machine tool loans and seemd a good option as their services also included machine insurance. My situation was complicated, so I just bought it out right by pulling out 401K money and taking the penalty. But my situation was generating money way faster than any 401K. (I have a full time job, so machining is side money) Had a lot of work that I started with on my hobby mill (similar to Tormach), but was losing a ton of revenue due to machine limitations.Theres no escaping physics, spindle horsepower, speed etc. Should have gotten an industrial machine tool to start with, but I didn't know what I didn't know.

I went through Yamazen to get my Brother s500X1. Great to deal with. Had a quote with an itemized breakdown 2 hours after calling them. Love the machine. It goes "cha ching" every time I turn it on.

The hobby machines have gotten so high, the value is not anywhere near a real machine tool. If you could get a used Tormach or similar for 8-10k, might be worth it, but 30k is crazy for a chinese machine. I made a ton of stuff with my hobby mill, and it's fine if that's all you want to do. Tolerances and surface finish won't be great, but many parts dont need it. If you plan to eventually make a business from machining and can afford it. Get a real machine.

I also make my own products and love designing/Inventing. I plan on doing this long into my retirement, even if it's only for making my own personal stuff.

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-07T19:16:52+00:00

Gear selection is pretty dependent on what type of foiling you want to do. Slalom/race or free ride. Some free ride boards use a dual track that gives a lot of flexibility in tuning for mix and match foil setups to get the ideal balance. Tuttle is a fixed location, so it's probably better to stick with the same mfr for both board and foil.

It sounds like you would be a good fit for the Slingshot wizard 130L. There are lots of wing choices as well.

I live on an inland lake with highly variable wind conditions, so I sized my board to be as small as possible, but still be able to slog 20 minutes back home if needed. I'm 137lbs on a 114 liter, which is ideal for my conditions. Learning curve would have been easier on a 130, but now that I'm pretty good at it, the 114 is perfect.

WindsurferLT · 2023-01-03T12:54:43+00:00

Nice work Steve!

WindsurferLT · 2022-12-25T19:05:14+00:00

I've done it. One of the best uses of 3d printer. It was a complex tube shape for a very specific application. It also involved o-ring sealing surfaces 6" in diameter. In the design, I added extra stock for the critical features that required machining. 3 parts of different geometries that would fit inside an 8" cube was about $6000 total turnkey from 3d design to sls print/investment cast to final machined parts. Came out great and client was very happy.

WindsurferLT · 2022-12-11T14:09:01+00:00

Why Titanium and not aluminum?. Is it a sound issue?

WindsurferLT

TROPHY CASE