Dolphin Stands Anyone.......

Scuba_Vixen · 8th July 2006, 03:09

Ok,
I've been suffering a serious case of "Stand Envy".

Every time a see a Meg or a KISS on one of John's stands, They just seem to sit there so proud, begging you to slip your arms thru the harness and go dive..... No more having to wrestle the bloddy beligerant bugger up from the tailgate hopelessly entangled in your own cables.

Well, ... I figured I'm almost pretty smart and ought to be able to make something similar for my CCR Dolphin.

So I made some measurements, drew up and cut out some patterns, and then using 3/16" foam board, (same thickness as my aluminum plate) I used the patterns and cut out the foamboard just like it was aluminum plate, and made a mock up of the stand so I could fine tune the dimensions. It works just as I planned, pull out on the bottom of the shell just a bit to clear the studs, and then lift it straight up off the adapter plate fingers at the top. ... Goes on just as easy.

There isn't anyone here with a brake that can handle 3/16" 6061 T6, so I can't bend it up from one piece of material. I'll have to make it from 3 pieces and weld the joins.... Not as pretty, but equally effective.

Once I have the working version made, I'll see how practicle it might be to integrate a handle that fits nicely amidst all the hoses and elbows.

Here's a few pics of the shell and TMI Shop adapter sitting on the foamboard mock up of the stand. It's just a nice height to use the 19cft ali tanks so common here.

Just getting too old to wrestle this beligerant bugger any more,

Darlene

jdz · 9th July 2006, 01:21

Hi Darlene,

wrt the handle, I would use a small length of tube or rod with a suitable clip at either end. These clips will attach to the holes you have already drilled out on the tabs poking out on the top of your shell.

Cheers, JDZ

Scuba_Vixen · 9th July 2006, 02:37

Quote: (Originally Posted by jdz)

Hi Darlene,

wrt the handle, I would use a small length of tube or rod with a suitable clip at either end. These clips will attach to the holes you have already drilled out on the tabs poking out on the top of your shell.

Cheers, JDZ

I'm a bit leary of picking up on the tabs. Those fingers are not going to take a whole lot of flexing without fatiguing, cracking , and finally breaking off. You'd also have to take off the handle to remove the shell.

My design goal is to have the handle, adapter plate, and stand, all function together as a chassis that doesn't have to come apart under normal circumstances. (except like to rinse it off completely & check for corosion)

The wing and harness can bolt on or off independantly of whether the shell is in place, and the shell can go on and come off whether the wing/harness is there or not.

I'd like the handle to be quite solid, so as to lessen the amout of weight added to the upper portion of the unit for trim. I'll also try to locate it so that it's balanced when you pick it up. So the whole unit picks up straight and doesn't "swing under" so to speak.

Once I get the stand all dialed in, I'll see how close I can come to getting the handle just right.

Darlene

jdz · 9th July 2006, 06:51

OK, I missread and saw that you had an alumplate and read it as an alum shell. Having a hard shell would allow the weight to hook off the two tabs and not be too much of a concern re bending the tabs...

Again, I would then hook up the handle closer to the plate if not on the plate. Alternatively, you could just cut out a hole from the top of the plate so that you don't need to add anything... The Prism backplate does this...

Cheers, JDZ

narked at 90 · 11th July 2006, 21:31

thanks for the complement Darlene,
hope your project works out for you, just give me a shout if you need any thing.
kindest regards john routley
www.narkedat90.co.uk

Scuba_Vixen · 16th July 2006, 04:20

Hi Guys,

Well, it's been a week of cutting, grinding, and finishing to have everything ready for the welder on Friday.

I'm now the proud owner of what must be the world's only Dolphin Stand, and it's a beauty. Even nicer than I envisioned! I'm wayyy excited about how nice everything sets up now; Easy to rig, easy to tear down, super easy to get on and off, all the valves are a piece of cake to reach, what more could a girl want! (well, besides a new Meg)

All I need to do now is make up a saddle, to secure my electronics canister in the bottom of the stand in and figure a suitable handle setup.

Darlene

9th July 2006, 01:21	#2 (permalink)
jdz Prism Cave Diver Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 223	Re: Dolphin Stands Anyone....... Hi Darlene, wrt the handle, I would use a small length of tube or rod with a suitable clip at either end. These clips will attach to the holes you have already drilled out on the tabs poking out on the top of your shell. Cheers, JDZ
(Online)

9th July 2006, 02:37	#3 (permalink)
Scuba_Vixen e/mCCR Dolphin Pilot Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Croix USVI Posts: 557	Re: Dolphin Stands Anyone....... Quote: (Originally Posted by jdz) Hi Darlene, wrt the handle, I would use a small length of tube or rod with a suitable clip at either end. These clips will attach to the holes you have already drilled out on the tabs poking out on the top of your shell. Cheers, JDZ I'm a bit leary of picking up on the tabs. Those fingers are not going to take a whole lot of flexing without fatiguing, cracking , and finally breaking off. You'd also have to take off the handle to remove the shell. My design goal is to have the handle, adapter plate, and stand, all function together as a chassis that doesn't have to come apart under normal circumstances. (except like to rinse it off completely & check for corosion) The wing and harness can bolt on or off independantly of whether the shell is in place, and the shell can go on and come off whether the wing/harness is there or not. I'd like the handle to be quite solid, so as to lessen the amout of weight added to the upper portion of the unit for trim. I'll also try to locate it so that it's balanced when you pick it up. So the whole unit picks up straight and doesn't "swing under" so to speak. Once I get the stand all dialed in, I'll see how close I can come to getting the handle just right. Darlene
(Offline)

9th July 2006, 06:51	#4 (permalink)
jdz Prism Cave Diver Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 223	Re: Dolphin Stands Anyone....... OK, I missread and saw that you had an alumplate and read it as an alum shell. Having a hard shell would allow the weight to hook off the two tabs and not be too much of a concern re bending the tabs... Again, I would then hook up the handle closer to the plate if not on the plate. Alternatively, you could just cut out a hole from the top of the plate so that you don't need to add anything... The Prism backplate does this... Cheers, JDZ
(Online)

11th July 2006, 21:31	#5 (permalink)
narked at 90 John Routley Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 1,074	Re: Dolphin Stands Anyone....... thanks for the complement Darlene, hope your project works out for you, just give me a shout if you need any thing. kindest regards john routley www.narkedat90.co.uk __________________ *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *http://www.grpservices.com/pursuit/* Supporting Shearwater Research Products in Europe Narked at 90 Go Military Last edited by narked at 90 : 11th July 2006 at 21:32. Reason: spelling
(Offline)

16th July 2006, 04:20	#6 (permalink)
Scuba_Vixen e/mCCR Dolphin Pilot Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Croix USVI Posts: 557	Here It Is, .... My Dolphin Stand Hi Guys, Well, it's been a week of cutting, grinding, and finishing to have everything ready for the welder on Friday. I'm now the proud owner of what must be the world's only Dolphin Stand, and it's a beauty. Even nicer than I envisioned! I'm wayyy excited about how nice everything sets up now; Easy to rig, easy to tear down, super easy to get on and off, all the valves are a piece of cake to reach, what more could a girl want! (well, besides a new Meg) All I need to do now is make up a saddle, to secure my electronics canister in the bottom of the stand in and figure a suitable handle setup. Darlene
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode