CST Composites Blog

Majority of the 18 masts are now supplied ready for wires to fit, which allow the sailors to receive a product that is professionally finished to the highest spec available.  The new masts not only optimise the layup to provide the bending stiffness the sailmakers require, but also maximise the toughness and torsional resistance of the mast through intermediate off axis ply’s. In the next edition we will show the sailplans for these latest editions to Switzerland.

We are having a sale this easter!

All skiff and dinghy carbon products are 15% off.

Sale lasts until friday the 13th of April 2012.

Only applies to orders placed by telephone or email.

Recently built in house 3D router now allows CST to perform more accurate cutting and trimming of components and tubes.  The possibilities are endless with this type of machinery on the factory floor. With a reduction of labour costs of up to 80% on some parts it allows CST manufacturing to continue to compete with China while still be based in Australia.

Australian Made, Australian Owned!

Rig and Sail Development

Take a sneak peek at the latest release of  CST RIGS AND DEVELOPMENT

With new mast and spreader configurations, CST has been able to achieve a unique setup on the 18′ skiff mast that has not been seen in the class before.  In aiming to utilise the natural stiffness of the sections, the conventional formula was thrown out the window, and a fresh new approach taken to achieve the desired luff rounds and performance characteristics.

We have done this by using thin-ply laminates, which allow more uni creating a stiffer mast, while still maintaining off-axis fibres in critical locations to maintain strength. This thin ply off axis fibre assists with localised load path deflection around the stress-raising points.  Controlled by our unique machinery this allows the tow to be spread beyond conventional supply parameters.

With new composite design techniques constantly being applied, stay attachment points have been optimised to utilise the strength of the material and reduce the number of exposed holes in the mast with old methods like t-balling.  We also know that finding the right balance of tip/mid/base panel stiffness vs span of the sail is critical to make the mast work the way the sail designer intends.  As you can see, through the CST – FEA modelling, the luff round prediction is within 3% of its target bend with the desired leech load applied. We have tuned this model over the last few years and are now successfully applying it to a number of other mast applications.

So, if you combine this stiffer mast with new stiffer rectangular boom sections, and flatter sails, the loads are continually going to increase, pushing the laminates closer  and closer to their design thresholds.  Through full scale testing as well as scale model testing we really understand our laminates performances and characteristics.

Take a sneak peek at the inside workings of  CST BIG TUBE WINDING

Backbone for boom furler on superyacht

The industry norm for winding tubes and mandrels involves multiple stages of debulking and curing, which can cause interlaminar and residual stresses, but at CST we do things differently.  Our filament winding process, which is ideal for large applications, lays down fibre in an efficient manner with measurable and repeatable quality and processes.  We use carbon tow, which is the most economically viable material for heavy objects as there is no secondary processing (ie weaving).

CST’s special resin formulations and unique methods allow these thick structures to be wound in a single wind, thus removing multiple debulking and curing processes whilst producing a laminate with a uniform cure and stress profile.  Our tubes have the perfect blend of +-45° and 0° fibres to provide torsional and axial stiffness and our ability to produce custom mandrels and tubes for these applications is our forte.  Our strength in this area provides many benefits for the end user, our valued customers.