Hail Pad Experiments
The current method that the CoCoRaHS project uses to monitor hail activity, the Hail Pad is a simple but effective way to record the size, number, and directionality of hail stones. Apparently the materials that are being used to construct them however are becoming cost prohibitive.
I conducted 2 experiments attempting to identify methods to reduce the cost of making 1 square foot Hail Pads, my findings are documented in the following steps.
I conducted 2 experiments attempting to identify methods to reduce the cost of making 1 square foot Hail Pads, my findings are documented in the following steps.
$.60 Each
Substrate
Buying individual precut pieces of styrofoam is not cost effective in a mass production scenario. A variety of polystyrene bulk sheet products are readily available either from local building supply stores, or online. Cutting polystyrene is easy and can be done using a variety of methods.
Individual Precut 12" X 12" X 1" = $3 to $6 each | Bulk Sheet 32 square feet X 3/4" = $8 = $.25 each
Cutting Methods:
1. Utility Knife & Straight Edge (rough edges, messy)
2. Circular Saw, Table Saw, or Band Saw (flat edges, fast, but messy)
3. Hot Wire Cutter (flat edges, fast, no mess)
Aluminum Foil
When cost per unit is a priority consideration, comparative shopping and a willingness to choose a generic instead of brand name is helpful.
Reynolds rey632 750 square feet = $135 = $.45 each | Generic Extra Heavy Duty Foil 750 square feet = $46 = $.14 (prices don't include S&H)
Packaging Tape
You pay more for convenience, buying small rolls of tape on a disposable dispencer with cutter is not cost effective in a mass production scenario. Bulk rolls can be dispenced by hand, and cut with scissors or a knife.
Disposable Dispencer 66' = $3 = $.05/foot | Bulk Roll 327' = $4 = $.01/foot
Conclusion
The styrofoam that I used for this experiment is bead-type expanded polystyrene which is denser and more rigid than the floral foam that is currently being used. It appears that the floral foam crushes more easily and retains the shape of the impacting object with more resolution than the bead-type polystyrene. The main sensing element however is the malleable aluminum foil surface layer which records the impacts by becoming embossed with a negative of the impacting object.
Buying individual precut pieces of styrofoam is not cost effective in a mass production scenario. A variety of polystyrene bulk sheet products are readily available either from local building supply stores, or online. Cutting polystyrene is easy and can be done using a variety of methods.
Individual Precut 12" X 12" X 1" = $3 to $6 each | Bulk Sheet 32 square feet X 3/4" = $8 = $.25 each
Cutting Methods:
1. Utility Knife & Straight Edge (rough edges, messy)
2. Circular Saw, Table Saw, or Band Saw (flat edges, fast, but messy)
3. Hot Wire Cutter (flat edges, fast, no mess)
Aluminum Foil
When cost per unit is a priority consideration, comparative shopping and a willingness to choose a generic instead of brand name is helpful.
Reynolds rey632 750 square feet = $135 = $.45 each | Generic Extra Heavy Duty Foil 750 square feet = $46 = $.14 (prices don't include S&H)
Packaging Tape
You pay more for convenience, buying small rolls of tape on a disposable dispencer with cutter is not cost effective in a mass production scenario. Bulk rolls can be dispenced by hand, and cut with scissors or a knife.
Disposable Dispencer 66' = $3 = $.05/foot | Bulk Roll 327' = $4 = $.01/foot
Conclusion
The styrofoam that I used for this experiment is bead-type expanded polystyrene which is denser and more rigid than the floral foam that is currently being used. It appears that the floral foam crushes more easily and retains the shape of the impacting object with more resolution than the bead-type polystyrene. The main sensing element however is the malleable aluminum foil surface layer which records the impacts by becoming embossed with a negative of the impacting object.
$2.00 Each
Substrate
Expanding polyurethane foam seemed like a good possible alternative substrate material. It's readily available from local building supply stores, and reasonably priced compared to the price for individual precut styrofoam. The foam is intended to be used as insulating sealant to fill gaps and cracks in buildings, to accomplish this it has to expand to fill in voids which makes it an ideal material to form into a substrate. When cured the material has properties similar to polystyrene.
Great Stuff 12oz = $3.60 (makes 2 pads) = $1.80 each + Foil + Tape
Conclusions
The polyurethane foam dispences rapidly and it is difficult to regulate the flow making inconsistent results likely. At an approximate 1" finished thickness the foam has to stay compressed in a form for several hours to ensure it cures enough to hold it's shape. Once cured the general purpose formula foam that I used hardens very rigid making it strong but this creates a very low impact recording resolution. There are other formulas of this foam available that claim to be more flexible and may be more suitable for this application.
Expanding polyurethane foam seemed like a good possible alternative substrate material. It's readily available from local building supply stores, and reasonably priced compared to the price for individual precut styrofoam. The foam is intended to be used as insulating sealant to fill gaps and cracks in buildings, to accomplish this it has to expand to fill in voids which makes it an ideal material to form into a substrate. When cured the material has properties similar to polystyrene.
Great Stuff 12oz = $3.60 (makes 2 pads) = $1.80 each + Foil + Tape
Conclusions
The polyurethane foam dispences rapidly and it is difficult to regulate the flow making inconsistent results likely. At an approximate 1" finished thickness the foam has to stay compressed in a form for several hours to ensure it cures enough to hold it's shape. Once cured the general purpose formula foam that I used hardens very rigid making it strong but this creates a very low impact recording resolution. There are other formulas of this foam available that claim to be more flexible and may be more suitable for this application.
Untested Ideas
I considered that shredded paper, or cellulose fiber insulation material could be combined with a binder, some sort of adhesive, and compressed in a form to make a potentially suitable substrate for the pads but I'm not in position to test this idea.
I also have an idea for an electronic sensor and data recording system, again I'm not in a position to experiment with this idea.
I also have an idea for an electronic sensor and data recording system, again I'm not in a position to experiment with this idea.