[PSUBS-MAILIST] information on viewports

Sat Mar 16 15:48:47 EDT 2024

 Just FYI, Hank abandoned the epoxy viewport project because they shattered without warning, as I recall.  Perhaps he can comment further as to why he abandoned it.  I think that you will find we urge using known accepted standards for fabrication for 1-ATM vessels.  As Sean has alluded to, your submarine can easily become your coffin and the best way to prevent that is to build to accepted standards.  That doesn't mean there isn't room for innovation, however the cost of testing to destruction innovative designs is a time consuming and expensive path.
We aren't trying to discourage you, just setting the "safety" tone since we are big on that here.  You might be well served to let is look at your design...we can point out issues that might be concerning and why you might find them so.  There's plenty of room for a non-traditional vessel that follows accepted design practices and you might inspire someone else to use your design.
Jon

    On Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 02:29:12 PM EDT, Jefferson Tortorelli via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:  

Thank you Sean. I have spent a good part of this morning reviewing all or most of the posts by your members. Lots of information that is really quite helpful. I know that of the two types of people interested in building a submersible, I fit the group that loves the build and don’t think I (at this point) care to dive deeper than 300 feet. It is the build. I have a preliminary design drawing. I actually am a little embarrassed to share as it certainly differs from what I have seen you guys doing.

I did read something this morning about Pronk making/casting epoxy viewports and a link to a epoxy supplier.

I will continue my research which I find quite interesting!

Jeff

Jefferson Tortorelli

Tortorelli Creations

4910 Santa Anita Avenue

El Monte, CA 91731

Cell: 909-908-3795

Shop: 909-370-3131

Website: www.Tortorelli.com

Instagram: @tortorellicreations

From: Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles-bounces at psubs.org>On Behalf Of Sean T. Stevenson via Personal_Submersibles
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2024 10:18 AM
To: personal_submersibles at psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] information on viewports

It appears that I misnumbered those resources, which should obviously have been numbered 1, 2, and 3.

Sean
-------- Original Message --------
On Mar 16, 2024, 11:16, Sean T. Stevenson < sean.t.stevenson at protonmail.com> wrote:

Hello Jeff.

A few important resources for you to check out:

1) Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Vehicles, Systems, and Hyperbaric Facilities - American Bureau of Shipping.

https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/rules-and-guides/current/special_service/7-rules-for-building-and-classing-underwater-vehicles,-systems-and-hyperbaric-facilities-2024/7-uwvs-rules-jan24.pdf

1) Handbook of acrylics for submersibles, hyperbaric chambers, and aquaria. - Jerry D. Stachiw

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Acrylics-Submersibles-Hyperbaric-Chambers/dp/1930536151

2) Safety standard for pressure vessels for human occupancy (PVHO-1), published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/pvho-1-safety-standard-pressure-vessels-human-occupancy/2023/drm-enabled-pdf

As for manufacturers, an internet search will likely reveal a number of acrylic suppliers who will manufacture viewports. Purchasing will inevitably be more expensive than DIY, because a manufacturer can only sell you a PVHO-1 certified viewport for liability reasons. For a PSub, you can achieve the intent without the exhaustive documentation requirements of PVHO-1 by designing to the standard, using the correct slush cast PMMA material, following the appropriate annealing schedule after forming, and then by subsequently testing. Per the PSubs ethos, comply with the commercial rules as far as is possible / practicable.

Sean

-------- Original Message --------
On Mar 16, 2024, 10:52, Jefferson Tortorelli via Personal_Submersibles < personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

Hi:

I am new to this organization and am currently in the design phase of a two person submersible. I am looking for information on obtaining acrylic viewports or learning (if possible) how to fabricate my own.

Thanks,

Jeff

Jefferson Tortorelli

Tortorelli Creations

4910 Santa Anita Avenue

El Monte, CA 91731

Cell: 909-908-3795

Shop: 909-370-3131

Website: www.Tortorelli.com

Instagram: @tortorellicreations

_______________________________________________
Personal_Submersibles mailing list
Personal_Submersibles at psubs.org
http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.whoweb.com/pipermail/personal_submersibles/attachments/20240316/0adbfdc9/attachment-0001.html>