Newbie. help needed

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Newbie. help needed

Author	Message
Aysar	Aysar posted 10 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 3, Visits: 16	Hi This is my first attempt with composites and my experience is very limited. I have made my best at researching this topic but though a request for help might be needed. I have a 40x30x10cm part that I have cut out from foam. I have sanded this, painted, waxed and polished etc this so now I have a perfect model of what I want to make. My plan is to coat the foam part entirely is fibreglass and let it cure. Cut the fibreglass in half with a dremmel cutter then use my 2 halves as a mold to fill with Vac cast epoxy casting resin to create resin casts of the original. I will then use my 2 casts as my template for vacuum forming. Is this method completely flawed? Any help desperately needed. Thanks in advance
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 10 Years Ago Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	I would make a split mould. The issue with cutting the fibreglass in half, is first of all it isn't very accurate. Try as hard as you like to cut a perfectly straight line with a dremel, you won't do it. Secondly, you will lose 1-2mm from the width of the cutting disc, so you will have this nicely shaped part that you have spent so much time getting right, then you'll cut it in half and all of a sudden it won't fit back together the same way and it won't be the same shape. So, I would recommend doing it as a split mould. Won't bother trying to explain in text how to do that, when EC have put together this great video on the subject: https://youtu.be/keBwRhkfuOQ Hopefully that gives you an idea. If you need help with where to put your barriers etc, post up a photo of what you are trying to make and we can probably help out. We might also be able to tell you whether there is an easier solution than what you have planned with the casting resin etc.
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redeye	redeye posted 10 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 52, Visits: 559	I agree with Hanaldo, Just a question for you though Aysar - any reason you wouldn't do this in MDF or similar and then paint and polish and use that for vacuum forming? I've done a little DIY vacuum forming at home, but not as deep as you are doing, using wooden forms and it has worked well.
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davro	davro posted 10 Years Ago Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 300, Visits: 2.2K	Sound advice from Hanaldo. You will learn a lot from watching that video, and taking your time creating a proper two part split mould with flanges ! David Stevens YouTube: Comment \| Rate \| Subscribe Instagram Composite Projects Body Package for Dax Rush RC Car Touring Body 1/10 Scale
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