frame for KISS and MEG

[narked at 90]

Hi every one just after Christmas i will be going into production with my new
Frame that will fit the KISS and MEG, but would like to gauge if it's worth my wile with all the outlay(would any one want one!)
it's made from Aluminium to keep the weight down but could be from 316ss
it bolts straight to the kiss and meg and raises the unit up off the ground so you don't have to stoop to put the unit on and has a large handle to help pick the units up, there is room under-neath to slow another tank or what ever you like really but the idea was for suit inflation
in the pictures the frame is made from 3 components but in production it will be made from one piece of material with no welds
it will be made from a sheet of material that will be cut by a water jet even the handle and then folded and finished
the finished version will have D-rings cut in to it plate at the bottom of the spine to attach either reels to or clip stages to.
i will place slots so you can add a cam-band to hold a tank, but i wont drill mounting holes for a quick release pony bracket as there are just to many types so if i cut holes for one type it would be wrong for another! so i'll leave that bit to you,
what do people think?

kindest regards john routley
www.narkedat90.co.uk

Attached Images:

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/attac...g?d=1135184415

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/attac...g?d=1135184415

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/attac...g?d=1135184415[IMG]

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/attachments/general-rebreather-forum/656-frame-kiss-meg-kissmegframe4.jpg?d=1135184415[/IMG]

[Alan Gough]

I like the idea of a one piece folded frame. Saddly (for you) I dive an inspiration so won't be in the market unless .........

[Reeve]

POSSIBLY.............

I've been considering building myself a stand for my kiss, for this very purpose out of Stainless. Just not got around to it yet........... I guess it's all down to cost.

Regards
Gareth

[narked at 90]

hi gareth i could do this out of stainless but went with ali because of the weight issues being at the bottom and then trying to trim the unit
i am looking in titainium as the water cutter has no problems with cutting it.
the cost of the ali frame hopefully will be around £110 + deliveryb
kindest regards john routley

Originally Posted by Reeve

POSSIBLY.............

I've been considering building myself a stand for my kiss, for this very purpose out of Stainless. Just not got around to it yet........... I guess it's all down to cost.

Regards
Gareth

[narked at 90]

Hi we now have some pictures of the frame set up on a MEG so you can see how it looks, we will be doing in water tests at stoney cove on thursday if any one wants to get a closer look or just join us for a dive(it will be a long deep dive) then give me a shout.
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/galle...&imageuser=637

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/galle...age.php?i=1428
the coloured in bits on this picture will be removed to leave D-rings in the base plate.
any feedback you can give will be greatfully recived.
kindest regards john routley

[Decodiver]

Hi John,

Can I make a suggestion here?

I would recommend that you do a lip at the front and back of the frame or a horizontal support to take the weight of the cannister off of the two bolts, in particular the bottom bolt.

The Meg is still a heavy CCR, and putting it down hard on a surface will shear through the backplate bolts fitted to the single tank adaptor, this would be a real PITA to sort out.

What is the inwater weight of the frame likely to be? I only need 2 kilos of lead to dive my Meg so it would be necessary for me to know the inwater weight before making a decision.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

[narked at 90]

hi dave there is a lip that holds the bottom of the scrubber, well the scrubber rests on before the bolts are tightend this was designed woth that problem in mind, doese the picture's not show it?
there isnt a lip at the base of the spine but rather the scrubber sits down on the J shaped foot, this is the same for both kiss and meg.
im not to shore on the in water weight but it's very light out of water i would say no more than 2kg but it's not here so i cant check it for you.
but i'll get Neil to do a report on it after tomorrows dives.
kindest regards john routley

Originally Posted by Decodiver

Hi John,

Can I make a suggestion here?

I would recommend that you do a lip at the front and back of the frame or a horizontal support to take the weight of the cannister off of the two bolts, in particular the bottom bolt.

The Meg is still a heavy CCR, and putting it down hard on a surface will shear through the backplate bolts fitted to the single tank adaptor, this would be a real PITA to sort out.

What is the inwater weight of the frame likely to be? I only need 2 kilos of lead to dive my Meg so it would be necessary for me to know the inwater weight before making a decision.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

[Decodiver]

Cool, get nobber Neil to do a report buddy.

Cheers,

Dave

[narked at 90]

sorry for the cross post but here is the results of the inwater testing yesterday and a link to the pictures

Re: Frame For Kiss And Meg - Test Run - Today, 16:37



Hi all,

Sorry for the delay in posting my report, I got sidetracked by several cans of beer & a certain Lara Croft aka Angelina Jolie

I've posted several pics that John took yesterday while we were at Stoney (which was bloody freezing at -2/3 deg C Air temp!)
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/galle...&imageuser=637

First of all the stand makes putting on the Meg a great deal easier for me.
Being 6'2", normally with the Meg sat on the tailgate of my pickup I still have to stoop down to get my arms into the harness, then stand up to take the weight & then tighten shoulder/crotch straps etc.
With the stand though I was able to sit on the tailgate and put my arms straight into the harness and then tighten the straps etc before having to stand up.

Walking down to the waters edge it did feel a bit odd as the back of the stand was resting against my bum, but this 'seemed' to help take some of the direct weight of the Meg off the shoulder straps of the harness.

Once in the water again it felt a little odd having the stand resting on my bum & I thought I would have definate trim problems. How wrong was I!
The fact that my suit inflation bottle was now located in the base of the stand made me think I would be tail heavy but this had no noticeable effect on my trim.
(The more eagle-eyed may have noticed that my argon bottle does have a neoprene wrap on it, but it is only 3mm so doubt it affects the buoyancy a great deal).

Once off and swimming I found it became very easy to forget all about the stand, trim was no different and staying horizontal required no effort.

One thing was apparent after the first dive of approx 60mins, as I got out of the water I noticed that I didn't have any of the usual lower back ache, again this would appear to be down to the fact that the stand stops the scrubber can sitting in the small of my back & causing the aches!

All in all I'm well and truely sold, so even if John doesn't get the numbers for a proper production run (can't think why not though! ) I'll get him to have one made for me.

I know Dave was asking about the weight in water, I can't answer that question directly either but I've put the stand on a set of scales and it comes in at just under 1.75kg so I think John's estimate of 1kg neg is probably pretty damn close.

Cheers John for letting me test out one of your creations

Neil

[narked at 90]

the frame has now changed to fit the kiss better and be even more stylish!
if any of you are still intrested in the frame you can see piccys of the newer version on a KISS here http://www.rebreatherworld.com/gener...iss-meg-5.html

im making one more with a few more mods just to make it look realy pretty then im making for those who are on my list as i have min order i have to fill.
kindest regards john rutley