It’s currently 2:17am on a school morning but we all know this is more important.
I’ve made a couple fibreglass boards before (can be found on @enrico_log on instagram) and now i’m planning on making a third.
Our robotics team developed (stryoaminium) which is a thick layer of styrofoam sandwiched with very thin aluminum sheets. It proved to be extremely strong and light, it’s like budget carbon fiber.
A direct quote from Midland Daily News:
"The team ended the weekend with another FIRST® Safety Award and Engineering Excellence Award sponsored by Delphi for the “uber-light, ultra-stiff, budget unobtanium” – a material Team 2619 nicknamed “Styrominium.” Styrominium was created by sandwiching two pieces of Dow Chemical Co. Styrofoam and bracing it with aluminum."
That inspired the idea between maple and fiberglass sandwiching the balsa core.
Will be a 35-37" single kick, 26" wheelbase with squared, routed wheel wells. W concave & slight rocker
Wait, wait, wait… WAAAAIT BRO! I need to know more about this styrominium compound The principle is simple and brilliant, how does it compare in strength and stiffness with raw aluminum 7000 T6 ? What would be the weight and density differences ? I’m PM’ing the shit outta your mail box right now haha haven’t been enthusiastic like that about “tech” for a long time !
I’m not sure I would use Balsa wood as the core. Balsa is very light but it is pretty each to break you would want to use another sort of hard wood. You could use bamboo if you are doing to small enclosures.
Awesome work Apolo, I will be anxiously waiting your testing and results. Best of luck at school (but spend your time where it’s more valuable [esk8 duh]).
Hope I can get a deck like the one you proposed for my first DIY