Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Filling voids advice - like Bugatti

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic15338.aspx

By ant... - 3/3/2015 2:55:12 PM

So I've been working on producing a carbon fibre coffee cup for many years, I want it to be perfect and its almost there.  For the past 2 years I've had the project on the back burner having spent many thousands on equipment and tests.  But last week watching the How Its Made featuring the Bugatti Veyron, I saw how their carbon nose cone always comes out with voids in tights places and that these areas were repaired to produce a flawless finish.  That made me think my process might be good enough and I can finish my cup with a few repairs.

These images show how my cup is one solid piece but the outside is always susceptible to tiny bubbles or sometimes voids, the inside is almost always perfect.  

My Process - The alloy mould is secured in a vacuum chamber while infusion resin is pumped from the mixing container into the mould from its base, this enables the cup to be one piece with all smooth sides and the vacuum chamber limits bubbles & voids.  My next test will include curling the mould in a high pressure oven maybe 100psi (pressure cooker LOL).  But I've tried loads of ways to get a 100% perfect result and id become disappointed until I saw the Bugatti repair process.
With a little help I mights just get a finished mug...

Question - Can these voids be filled?  any suggestions?  

Im guessing sand the holes back to remove any release agent, maybe with some acetone and fill with a syringe of general epoxy.  then rub it back to a perfect round finish.


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/1325fe1e-b6ed-43f5-a978-b7bc.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/b19d8eb0-a52c-4d6e-8bfd-e10a.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/8b8a7c94-3f7d-46e3-a3e3-c511.JPGBTW this big hole is drilled to practice fitting the carbon handle.
By ant... - 3/5/2015 5:56:07 PM

Hey Fred

Its great to hear from you Smile   After I saw those supercar 'how to' shows I was hoping id find someone who was an expert at doing this type of work.

Thanks for the tips, ill buy that resin and give it a go.

Cheers