I would like some advice from you more experienced folk, I am infusing an odd shaped panel, se image, and would like to know the best place to put the vac and resin lines? The sheet will be a decorative piece in 195g c/f. Thanks.

I would put the resin feed where you have written the number 6 with spiral running the full length of that edge. I would put the vacuum port at the opposite side (at the end of the 'point' of the triangle). I expect the spiral would spread the resin quickly along the longest edge and then the resin would reach the tip of the triangle last, where the vacuum line is.

I hope this helps!

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

Justy tried that this morning Matt. It didn't work. No resin infused into the last foot of the top left corner as you look at my previous sketch, I even doubled the resin quantity. Hey Ho, another £20 down the drain.

You could place the resin feed line in the middle and around the perimeter of the part spiral conected to vacuum

If you ran the spiral all the way along the top (longest) edge I don't understand how resin could possibly not 'get there' - it would be pretty much starting there. Can you upload a photo of what happened?

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

I had actually demoulded before seeing your reply. However these may help.  377 is the finish I am getting. 374 shows the dry area from the peelply side. 375 shows the scale of the thing, it's 1.9 metres long, it also shows my layup table, aluminium 2.5 x 1.1 m. It's heated from underneath by the way and maintains 24 celsius all the time with insulation fibre on top. The infusion spiral went right into but not past the top left corner.

Would this have worked better if I had two infusion points spaced along the top (longest) curved side ? I could use a single pot with 'y' feed and two clamps? what do you think?

Hi,

Thanks. They've very helpful. The finish looks supurb; what a shame it didn't get to the far corner.

Would this have worked better if I had two infusion points spaced along the top (longest) curved side ? I could use a single pot with 'y' feed and two clamps? what do you think?                                                

Yes, definately. I didn't suggest it because I didn't think it would be a problem but I guess sometimes there can be a little trial and error involved. Two connectors equally spaced down that long edge, feeding into the spiral, would certainly help. I'm still suprised it didn't get there but it's a long way for the spiral to take the resin and clearly in this case it was too long.

--Matt

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

Thanks. I will give twin feeds a go. I am rescuing the panel by wetting through onto waxed glass and compressing with anothe peelply and glass sandwich. it will take some careful flatting and poilishing but might work.

The issue may not be the feed spiral, it may be the surface you are using. How thick is the ally sheet and how is it fixed to the bench? when you pull vac the sheet can lift/bend very slightly leaving a void between the CF and the mould surface. The resin will not flow into this void leaving a dry patch. I have had the same issue when trying to use a 3 mm sheet of glass for flat sheet.

Just my two cents worth. Is there a chance that your resin gelled in the feed line spiral before it could infuse that corner?

Fred