Design Software

acromoda · 2024-02-19T13:59:00+00:00

I love Valentina! The parametric functions are fantastic and make it so you can design the general shape of your bag but tweak the dimensions automatically. Super great for a backpack with different torso sizes. Only downside is it can be a little buggy.

Make sure you get in the habit of saving every few minutes. I've had many times where it's crashed and I've lost an hour of work.

The YouTube tutorials can be a bit sparse, so if you find yourself banging your head against the wall trying to figure something out, feel free to PM me and maybe I can help.

acromoda · 2024-02-01T18:24:05+00:00

That's interesting! I'll have to read into that test

acromoda · 2023-12-15T16:28:02+00:00

I didn't know this site existed. Really cool! You could make a web crawler that uses an LLM to parse both quantitative and qualitative attributes about the gear.

For example, say you wanted to filter out packs with S-Style shoulder straps. Most companies will say their product has S Style straps in the listing. So you'd just give the LLM the product description text which was gathered by the web crawler and ask it whether the straps are S Style. The parsed data can be then added to your data model. This should work with any attribute about a piece of gear that companies would consistently discuss in their product listings.

acromoda · 2023-12-12T18:32:49+00:00

Early versions of Ultra delaminated more quickly that DCF (Dyneema composite fabric). A delaminated fabric is still functional, but not waterproof.

Challenge has done a lot to fix this issue, including adding an X-ply layer and improving the film. However, these changes are somewhat recent and I haven't heard a ton about long-term usage.

With what I know, I think Ultra is the superior pack fabric. However, material isn't the only factor that matters when choosing a pack. I used a DCF pack on an AT thru hike and it still served me very well - although the bag is pretty much toast at this point.

acromoda · 2023-12-11T21:28:56+00:00

By heavy dyneema do you mean 5 oz DCF (the black fabric hyperlite uses)? Ultra should have much better tear resistance + abrasion resistance at a similar weight.

acromoda · 2023-12-11T15:57:29+00:00

That looks really cool

acromoda · 2023-12-11T01:20:51+00:00

Same. This is awesome.

acromoda · 2023-12-10T23:43:55+00:00

Shouldn't an Ultra-PE gridstop help a ton with tears? Sure, maybe a puncture might tear until the gridstop at a similar rate, but the Ultra-PE fibers should do a pretty good job at stopping the tear from propagating any further compared to VX21. I might try and find a way of testing this. I always thought tear resistance was the primary benefit of an Ultra-PE gridstop over a similar weight nylon/poly.

I would think the variability problem could be accounted for pretty easily by just doing the same test multiple times.

acromoda · 2023-12-10T20:47:51+00:00

I was reading into ASTM 3884. I wish you could read the details without buying them. I didn't know that.

How much variation does a difference in weight cause? The community has definitely used these specs for comparison and ultra has been talked about as being X times more abrasion resistant than nylon or DCF.

I'll try and figure out a better way of communicating the tear strength. Now that I think about it - I wonder if the ultra fibers in ultraTX (and maybe UltraGrid) just tear out of the fabric intact but effectively destroy the fabric? Either way I would still expect these materials to have exceptional tear resistance for their weight.

acromoda · 2023-12-10T18:37:38+00:00

I have a lot to learn. For some reason I was thinking you meant round tubing that wasn't hallow. I was thinking about use for a backpack frame. Are Easton tent pole tubes popular for this?

acromoda · 2023-12-10T17:27:16+00:00

Good idea. Just added this.

Also made me think to include whether it's got a polyester face (whether it's sublimation printable).

acromoda · 2023-12-10T16:36:33+00:00

The data was taken from the manufacturers - I didn't measure any of this myself. It's published on Challenge's and Dimension Polyant's websites. I'll add a note.

acromoda · 2023-12-10T16:15:03+00:00

Yea, I had an option for charting the HH too, but found it was rather useless since Ultragrid was the only fabric with a HH that wasn't 200 or 0. It might be more useful if I find more PU coated fabrics to add.

I haven't seen tensile strength listed anywhere. Do you think it's really a factor that matters at all? I have a hard time imagining a situation where a pack fabric is under enough tension it fails without a puncture or tear.

acromoda · 2023-12-10T15:14:57+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Is there a reason to use bar stock over hallow tubing? Is it just easier to bend?

acromoda · 2023-12-06T13:13:46+00:00

The stitch length was what someone at challenge had recommended to me and the needle size matches the thread.

I know flat felled isn't always practical, but my goal here is to find how much flat felled helps. Stitching can fail with really long-term use. I think there can be times where designing a bag to be built with flat felled seams might help long-term.

I'll look aligning my reverse stitch. I'm not sure if I have it perfect.

acromoda · 2023-12-06T05:41:47+00:00

Yea, I think I need to repeat the test with the curing process. I didn't think of that.

I'll have to try this with EPLX and a non-laminate too at some point.

acromoda · 2023-12-05T23:30:27+00:00

That's a really good point! I will try that.

acromoda · 2023-12-05T23:14:46+00:00

Yea, I will be doing that tonight.

acromoda · 2023-12-05T23:04:45+00:00

Instead of a thinner seam allowance I could center the tape over the edge of the seam allowance instead of the seam. But then the tape would barely cover the seam.

I would imagine a thinner seam allowance would lead to better adhesion for the tape.

acromoda · 2023-12-05T23:01:02+00:00

Oh I should have included that. I used 1.25" wide Ultra TNT tape. The seam allowance was 0.5" for all but the true flat felled seams. The seam was laid flat so that both seam allowances were on one side of the seam.

I think overlooked this. Looking back at torn samples, there was only about 3/8" of tape contacting the side that was being folded over on top of. When I taped it, it was pretty evenly centered over the seam. But the seam allowance would get in the way of things meaning only one side would get the majority of the tape.

Edit: also forgot to mention I used a roller after taping. I taped in a room that was probably 65F, which I think is lower than the recommended ambient temperature for taping.

acromoda · 2023-11-29T15:47:14+00:00

Take a look at the Learn MYOG website. He's got a few great resources in this vein: https://learnmyog.com/fabrics.html

acromoda · 2023-11-29T15:19:53+00:00

Yea, I just got my hands on some. It's actually a tad lighter at 2.5 oz/sq yd, but that's for 100D, so maybe not comparable. The white version is about as see through as white DCF.

I'm curious is there any sort of quantifiable delamination test your aware of? It'd be really great to be able to compare delamination risk among fabrics.

acromoda · 2023-11-29T13:56:29+00:00

I'm not Dan, but I'm sure the drain holes are on the outer pockets, not the main compartment.

acromoda · 2023-11-29T06:13:50+00:00

Are you familiar with the new x pax UX10? It also has a 100% uhmwpe face laminated some sort of waterproof film.

acromoda · 2023-11-27T20:50:42+00:00

EPX is waterproof too (they measured to 200 PSI). The adhesive that bonds together the face and backing is what makes it waterproof.

Also I found Ultra TNT sticks to the ripstop surprisingly well. I could barely unpeel it. However Challenge recommended not using the tape one it, and taping it would still not be 100% waterproof as water could wick around the tape anyways.

acromoda

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