Pattern for making small helicopter canopies


Pattern for making small helicopter canopies
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jamesmears
jamesmears
jamesmears
posted 12 Years Ago HOT
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Hi there

I want to have a go at making canopies for the very small indoor micro helicopters - Blade MCPX etc 
The canopies supplied by the manufacturer are "very" fragile plastic and I have had enough of buying new ones at £9 a time while I learn 3D flying!



I am totally new to all of this so I am looking for some tips / advice. I was thinking of having a go at making CF and also single piece plastic Vacuum formed versions but I have quite a few questions as the parts are very small about 120mm x 60mm x 50mm deep.



1. Is something like the PU foam block suitable for hand carving my design to make the pattern, if so which density to use?
2. or is the medium density model board better for a smooth finish and strength for such a small pattern. I only have basic hand tools to do the carving.

3. Does the foam / model board then need a "skin" of resin to make it hard enough to use as a pattern, could I vacuum form 0.5mm PETG plastic at 150 degrees C directly over the model board?

3. Because the shape has to be exactly symmetrical and carving this accurately by hand would be quite hard, should I make half of my design from the above foam or model board then make a mould from that, then cast two halves in resin and stick them together to make the final pattern? Would the Polyurethane Casting Resin be Ok in this situation, could I bond two halves together?

4. I am assuming that to make a CF version I would need to make the CF part in two halves and bond them together? The helicopter canopy needs to be very light, would 2 layers of CF be light enough and would I use CF tape to bond the two halves together inside with a bit more resin?

Sorry for asking so many questions 

Thanks

James
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carbonlynx
carbonlynx
carbonlynx
posted 11 Years Ago HOT
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Posts: 3, Visits: 39
i feel your pain i have gone through many as well, i found this video useful for doing plastic canopies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YbA2hbzR0

it works for anysize canopy and for carbon fiber 2 layers is plenty i have made parts out of one layer and its flexibility is very good. two layers will make it rigid.

"I was put on this Earth to accomplish a many number of things. Right now i am so far behind i will never die." ~unkown
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