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muxiamandy
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Hanaldo, sorry for asking, any chance for those sketches? I think I got my blade split line correct; not too sure about the base. Does anyone have a problem when trying to get a smooth surface for their patterns after putting on primers and doing all the sanding? By touch, my surface finish seem fine, all smooth; however, I can still see very fine lines on the pattern even after using polishine from EC. Has anyone had the same problem? I have gone up to 1200 g sanding paper.
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Hanaldo
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A silicone mandrel is a nifty tool to use when you're wet laying. Basically you need your mould first, assembled. Then you can cast your mandrel by pouring silicone into the mould, filling it to the point you need. You can then use this mandrel to place pressure on complex shapes when you're laying up. What gets a little bit tricky is that your laminate will have some thickness as well, which you need to take into account with your mandrel so that everything still fits. Generally I compensate for this by placing a couple layers of vacuum film on the mould surface before casting the mandrel, which gives the final piece a bit of clearance. Depends how thick you want your laminate to be though.
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muxiamandy
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The blade is 350 mm by 150 mm and it tapers from 40 mm to 5 mm, so yeah, you right, it will be tight. Sorry if I sound thick but Silicone mandrel? how? Whenever you can about the pictures mate, I am already very appreciative of all the help.
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Hanaldo
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Ah dammit. I hate trying to do this stuff from my phone. I'll fix the links as soon as I can get to a laptop mate. That space won't be an issue, you mould that with the blade. So out your barriers on the edge of the base. When I fix my drawings you'll hopefully see what I mean. Unless this object is bigger than it looks, you will struggle to vac bag it. Reason being, the blade gets so tight towards the end that you wont be able to get in there with the two halves bolted together. A silicone mandrel is an option there.
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muxiamandy
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Can you please reattached your pictures Hanaldo? I can't seem to download them. My computer is blocking both pictures.
My first idea was to use wet lay up and vaccum bagging to go around bonding all the pieces separately. I am hoping that it would work.
By "space between the blade and the base", I meant the junction between the end of the blade and the beginning of the rectangular base. I have attached a picture. Although now that I am looking at the pattern again, There might not be a problem to mould that space..
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Hanaldo
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Going off your pictures, this is how I would do it. Can't see any reason to do the base in 3 parts having looked at it closer, but might depend on the surface area of those opposing sides.  ttps://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/10352321_10152267809997541_3937004721815063716_n.jpg?oh=1a32911a4aa39a6a12b9d7e8a6c8367e&oe=54D04457&__gda__=1417842497_8a22fc4aec3928d4d6d4fe662f1aa3bd">
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Hanaldo
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Pretty complex part for a fibreglass mould. Certainly doable, but it's going to be a lot of pieces. And when it comes to making the final part, if you aren't using pre-preg then you're going to have to lay them up separately. Which means bonding all the pieces together after they have cured. If it is just a project for learning then go for it, you'll learn a lot. But if you intend to use it for something that places it under anything more than very low loads, then it may be quite weak. As for how to make the mould, I think brainfart is on the money. 2 parts for the blade, 3 parts for the base, perhaps 2 if the angles permit. If we are on the same page then I think you understand where to put the barriers, but I'm a little confused as to what "space between the blade and the base" you are talking about. I'll try to draw a quick picture as to how I would flange it.
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muxiamandy
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In any case, I will have to join the moulds together. It is a part that has been lying around for awhile in my lab and and I have taken it as a project. I did not know much about casting and all that so I will say that I am learning as I go. I am planning to make the part using glass and carbon.
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brainfart
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Oh yeah you said so already.
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brainfart
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That is a pretty complex part.
What do you want to do with the mold? Laying up some fabric and resin, or simply cast a replica with some casting resin?
If you want to do the latter I'd consider making a silicone mold, if it is the former then the next question is are you planning to do the base and blade separately and then join them?
Is this just some decorative item, or are you planning to use it for something?
This is a turbine compressor blade, right?
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