Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Carbon Fiber Intake Tube

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic15215.aspx

By mitchedwards - 2/24/2015 5:15:42 AM

Hi guys I'm new here and new to making my own composites! I am a third year Mechanical Engineering student in Canada.  What I want to do is make some carbon fiber parts for my truck which include; Intake tube, Turbocharger tube, and Intercooler tubes to start.

I have began making my intake tube plug utilizing the following materials:
Foam - Floracraft Dry Foam from michaels craft store
Basic hot glue
Bondo Gold body filler
Filler primer
Duplicolor engine paint

I just received my prepreg carbon fiber from Composites Canada (196gsm and 670gsm) and I attached the spec sheet they sent me.

My plan was to make the mold from the prepreg as it will cost me the same as to do  a wet layup fiberglass mold vs prepreg.

Do I need a gelcoat for a prepreg tooling mold?

My vacuum pump will only get about 17 inhg at sea level, will this be sufficient?

Will my plug hold up to curing the mold in an oven? I will need to make an oven, any suggestions?

Sorry about all the questions guys I have spent about 2 months researching and am getting really excited!

The pictures are of my plug installed in my truck to verify fitment.

Thanks guys!
By Zorongo - 2/24/2015 11:29:01 PM

I PREFER wood for the oven´s structure as absorves less heat than steel or aluminium and for me is easyer to make. Steel is also valid, but need to be well isulated.

4 x 100 W will probabilly be not enough. Try a domestic heater. I would suggest 2 x 1000 W. In case you need medium power, you could add a potentiometer to one of the 1000 Ws line. (Or better with electronic control !)

If you don't reach your requested temp, insist on isulation. seal edges and corners with mineral wool, fiberglass or similar. Increase wall thickness. recirculate your air and by last, increase heating power.

For the mold / plug.... if foam collapses on your test, I would suggest to make the mold epoxy wet layup room temp a few plyes.
This will create a sufficent strength to support next prepreg layers vacuumed + heated.
Once cured, maybe poscure it to resist prepreg´s curing temp. And then add the prepreg + high temp + vacuum as higher as possible.

Mold´s thickness.... I use to make about 6 mm for room temp wet layup. Made with glass. Up to 10 mm for big parts. If part is big, flexion under vacuum is more "able" (?). Less probable on small parts => thinner mold.
As the parts are not too big, you can use "thin" molds. Using carbon for the molds gives stifness.... I would go to about 5 or 6 mm.
Maybe 2 x 200 gr + 7 x 670 gr ? I would use gel coat to avoid fabrics's crosses marks on the surface. If you´ll make many parts, give a few extra plyes, to about 8mm as high temp + vac is a pain for molds (contraction, pressures, dilatation, on each part ....

I woul not use casting resin. Fabric gives dimensional stability, avoid torsions or other deformations...

That all is a fast recomendation... I´ve probabily missed any points...

Pay attention to details and think before making. Is not complicate !!