What we're doing, and how we're doing it.

Click parts to see the pictures.

3-D model of where we are now. (A little out-dated at the moment)

(Built using VariCAD Software)


Our goal is to build a 2-man submarine, capable of depths up to 350 feet (100m). The sub is based on a design by Captain George Kittredge and will weigh 4000 lbs. (1800 kg) when finished. The hull will be approximately 8 feet (2.44m) long, and have an interior diameter of approximately 34 inches (0.86m). Overall length of the submarine will be 14 feet (4.27m).



Current work:


---------- Variable Ballast Tank ----------

(04/25/2004) The variable ballast tank has been added. Pictures will show up here soon.
We'll be machining the acrylic for the viewports soon, as well as adding the main ballast tanks with
integrated motors (a big job!).
---------- Motor Electronics ----------

(11/04/2003) A lot of work has been going on with the electronics for the motors, as well as other digital electronics for instrumentation.
We've haven't been doing a good job keeping the web page updated, but promise to do so in the coming months!
---------- Battery Pods have been attached ----------

(02/04/2003) The battery pods have been installed. Quite a job, but they're on. That adds on another
500 lbs. (225 kg) to the overall weight of the sub.
---------- Battery Pod End Caps ----------

(03/04/2002) We have been working on finalizing the battery pods and getting them ready to attach to the hull (a BIG step!) :-)
We are finalizing our design for the electrical thru-hulls between the battery pods and the hull, and once we do that, we should be just about ready to install the pods.
---------- Hull Viewports ----------

(02/20/2002) The hull viewports are all in. This completes the installation of the 10 viewport window frames.
(01/20/2002) We spent the afternoon cutting holes in the sub today. We've just cut 4 holes in the hull, giving us a total 10 windows throughout the sub. (5 viewports in the conning tower, and 5 in the hull). After we weld in the remaining windows, and some mechanical thru-hull fittings, we will be attaching the rear endcap. After the rear endcap, we will be attaching the battery pods. *Then*, it'll really start to look like a sub.
---------- Front EndCap ----------

(09/09/2001): We installed the front endcap today, as well as the front viewport. They are both tack-welded and will be fully welded soon. It's really neat to see it start to look like a real submarine!
(09/20/2001) Fully welded now! Time to move on...

---------- Battery Pods ----------

(08/10/01): We have begun to finalize work on the battery pods and will have another section of pictures showing up soon. Monica has been welding up a storm on the first pod. Welding, then machining, then welding, then machining - that's what it'll take to make the sealing surface for the o-ring on the first battery pod. Lather, rinse, repeat for the second battery pod.
(10/01/01): We are nearing the completion of the battery pod endcaps. Once complete, we'll start assembling the battery trays that will be inside of the pods. After that is complete, we'll weld on the front endcap of each pod, then attach the pods to the sub. That'll be a big day for sure. The sub will have to come off of it's roll-frame that has served us so well so far. We will likely put on the rear endcap prior to doing this. I like having the ability to spin the sub on the roll-frame when doing the endcap welds.

---------- Hatch ----------

(06/20/01): We have started working on the hatch recently. We have cut the hole in the hatch, and have tack-welded in the viewport frame.
(08/10/01): We have now begun to finish up the hatch. We have just finished making the hinge for the hatch, and have welded it to the conning tower. We have done a quick fit of the hatch and it seems to work just fine. Next, we'll do some final welding on the hatch, then take it to a machine shop to have some machining done on it. We don't have the cabability to machine something of this size, so we're going to have to have another shop do it. We have to have the sealing-surface machined flat, then have an o-ring groove machined in it. This o-ring will seal the hatch and keep out the water - hopefully! ;-) We have to do all of the welding on the hatch prior to this machining simply because any welding done after the machining can cause the hatch to warp, and it just won't seal well, if at all.

---------- Conning Tower ----------

(05/31/01): We have cut out the holes for the viewports in the conning tower, and have tack-welded the conning tower to the sub, as well as having tack-welded the 4 viewport frames into the conning tower. Next, we'll tack-weld the hatch ring to the top of the conning tower. Then we will begin to do the full welds on everything little bits at a time. Welding all of this has been known to cause warpage of the hatch ring, and deformation of the conning tower. We're hoping to progressively weld all pieces together in very small increments. This should make the entire structure very rigid as we weld more and more of it together. Hopefully this technique will minimize the warpage of the hatch ring.

---------- Viewports ----------

(04/09/01): The acrylic for the viewports was picked up last week, and the steel for the viewport frames will be picked this week.
We are about to begin machining all of the viewports, a total of 10 of them. There will be 8 9" (0.23m) viewports, 4 in the conning tower, and 4 in the hull. Another viewport in the hatch, and a large 14" (0.35m) in the front of the sub.
(04/29/01) We have begun machining the 8 viewports that will go into the conning tower and into the hull. Once these are done we will likely start assembling the conning tower and the hatch.
Update ->(05/07/01) This past weekend we added a coolant pump system to the lathe, which really helps speed up the machining. Presently, we're doing *lots* of machining on the viewports.
Update ->(05/31/01) Four of the viewports have been finished and have been tack-welded into the conning tower. It's starting to look like a real sub!
-------------------------------

The battery pods are still being assembled.
We are going to wait untile the battery pods are complete prior to welding the Variable Ballast Tank to the underside of the hull. The pods and the VBT are welded together, and to the hull to form a combo double-keel & skid package.

Work Completed:

-------------------------------
Ribs: Completed 04/29/01

(03/01/01) Right now the ribs are tack-welded into place, ready for another 150 feet of welding to put them in their final place.
(04/09/01): The ribs are half-way installed. 75 feet of welding was completed this past week. 75 more feet this week - hopefully! :-)
(04/29/01): After a big welding marathon this weekend, the ribs are now completely installed.


-------------------------------


02/24/2001
We finished building the variable ballast tank today.

02/21/2001
We are going to start building the Variable Ballast Tank which is a small tank, exterior to the hull, that allows us to fine-tune the buoyancy of the submarine once submerged.

From inside the sub, using valves, we can either allow water into this tank, or force water out using compressed air. This has the effect of making the submarine either heavier, or lighter, by about +/- 25 lbs (11.4 kg). Once submerged, we will adjust the amount of water in this tank until the sub neither sinks, nor floats, but maintains it's current depth by itself. This is neutral buoyancy. The sub's weight will exactly equal the amount of water that the sub is displacing.

02/21/2001
The 7 reinforcing ribs have been assembled, and have been tack-welded into the hull. The main purpose of the ribs is to maintain the 'roundness' of the hull. Because the hull is a cylinder, in order for it to crush, one part of the hull must buckle inward, while the other part buckles outward. The ribs are designed to prevent this from happening. There are 7 ribs, spaced 1 foot apart, each weighing approximately 25 lbs (11.4 kg). To build each rib, which is 2 pieces, requires approximately 20 feet (6m) of welding. Another 20 feet (6m) of welding is required to install each rib.

01/16/2001
The conning tower ring has been welded into place. This involes grinding the hole in the hull to fit the ring closely, but with a little gap between the ring and the hull. The ring was first welded to the hull from the inside. After that, from the outside, we used a grinder to open up the gap between the ring and hull enough to get a good weld joining the conning tower, the hull, and the first weld that was done from the inside.

01/11/2001
The construction has begun. The hole for the conning tower has been cut, using a plasma cutter, and is ready to be ground to the correct shape to fit the conning tower reinforcement ring. The conning tower ring has also been cut to the rough shape that it needs to be. Next step is to fit the two of them together, and weld them in place. The conning tower ring is 3/4" thick metal, and is designed to maintain the strength of the hull even though a large hole has been cut in it.

01/04/2001
The frame which will be used for assembly has been built. This frame has wheels which will allow us to move the sub around the garage, and in and out of the garage, as well as having wheels that allow us to rotate the hull on the frame as needed. This will be very handy.

We also figured out a way to get the hull up on the frame by ourselves, using rails and a hand-winch (and a Jeep). The hull is 550 lbs. (250 kg).

12/12/2000
The main pieces have arrived! We have most of the pieces required to build the main bulk of the hull, conning tower, battery pods, and variable ballast tank.

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