Hey Fam,

The PDF file that gives you the directions for the Uni-MOLD system requires 150g of (CSM) with the coupling coat, followed by 450g 0f (CSM) of the tooling resin?...............

I want to use cabon fiber so would insert the correct size weight of (FRP) in place of the (CSM)....?

to complete the Part...or

Is this the foundation or completed tooling for the mold to begin laying carbon fiber laminates parts......

Hi Twista,

Firstly, can I just ask why it is that you want to use carbon fibre to reinforce your mould rather than CSM? - You should find that using the Uni-Mould system and CSM results in a very stiff and very dimensionally stable mould that can even be used for low-medium temperature pre-preg work.

Just to clarify the terminology 'FRP' normally refers to 'Fibre Reinforced Plastic' and can mean any plastic (i.e. epoxy, polyester, vinylester) that has been reinforced with a fibre (i.e. glass, carbon, diolen, kevlar). I think what you're asking about is substituting Chopped Strand Mat (glass fibre) with woven carbon fibre cloth.

If this is what you mean then, yes, in theory you could swap weight for weight glass CSM for woven carbon cloth; it would be massively more expensive to do this and I can't really think of an example of an occasion where I would use this combination myself but technically it would work fine. The one thing to watch out for would be using a woven cloth for your coupling layer (the circa 125g layer) as a woven cloth will be considerably more difficult (if not impossible) to get to follow all the contours of your mould without any bridging or voiding, compared to a chopped strand mat which breaks down completely and should be easy to get down perfectly onto the mould's surface.

For the reinforcement it's 4 layers of 450g CSM all at the same time (not a single layer of 450g). This will result in about 5mm of mould thickness.

I hope this helps,

Matt

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

Firstly, can I just ask why it is that you want to use carbon fibre to reinforce your mould rather than CSM? - You should find that using the Uni-Mould system and CSM results in a very stiff and very dimensionally stable mould that can even be used for low-medium temperature pre-preg work.

Oop's....! I understand what the (CSM) is used for now, mold building reinforcement, ......ok, ok, you got me that's why you have this site for us newbies,
so in short this (Csm) fabric will give the uni mold gel coat it's strength, rigidness for making multiple parts as the mold is needed...... right.......must have been tired when reading this, I work allot and should have waited to read again fresh the next day, but time is moving and want to get this project going.....


Just to clarify the terminology 'FRP' normally refers to 'Fibre Reinforced Plastic' and can mean any plastic (i.e. epoxy, polyester, vinylester) that has been reinforced with a fibre (i.e. glass, carbon, diolen, kevlar). I think what you're asking about is substituting Chopped Strand Mat (glass fibre) with woven carbon fibre cloth.

ok, got it off of your site 
Woven fabrics and other reinforcements are used in conjunction with resins (the matrix) to produce composite materials which combine the strengths and overcome the weaknesses of two (or more) materials to produce very strong materials, the most common ones being GRP/FRP (Glass/Fibre Reinforced Plastic) and carbon fibre.
I thought the latter GRP/FRP related to the carbon fiber, here is where getting the jargon language correct....! I am truly a newbie, however with any industry it's a process.......,

If this is what you mean then, yes, in theory you could swap weight for weight glass CSM for woven carbon cloth; it would be massively more expensive to do this and I can't really think of an example of an occasion where I would use this combination myself but technically it would work fine. The one thing to watch out for would be using a woven cloth for your coupling layer (the circa 125g layer) as a woven cloth will be considerably more difficult (if not impossible) to get to follow all the contours of your mould without any bridging or voiding, compared to a chopped strand mat which breaks down completely and should be easy to get down perfectly onto the mould's surface.

For the reinforcement it's 4 layers of 450g CSM all at the same time (not a single layer of 450g). This will result in about 5mm of mould thickness.

I hope this helps,

Yes it clarifies those questions that I have had....so thank you again.......when this is all over I am going to be one of your best students..................))))))) trust me................

No problem, you're welcome!

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

this whas my first mould with a similar uni-moulding system.http://www.ribunlimited.se/rib.html

It whas realy nice to work with.

Its a 36 fots RIB and i make all the moulds with uni-mould..

All the pluggs was cnc milled and the constuctor was Egil Ranvig from Norway, he was the owner of Hydrolift.