Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

CNC router for mold making

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic19984.aspx

By FKY - 12/10/2015 1:43:58 PM

Hi all

Anyone used CNC routers to make molds for composite parts before?

I am thinking of using CNC routers to machine down PU foam, lay down glass fabric on the machined foam to have an impermeable surface.

Then apply mold release on the impermeable surface, gel coat and lay up to build the mold.

Is this wise? Any advice?
By Finnluxury - 12/22/2015 7:23:25 PM

I have cnc milled PU foam and XPS foam (finnfoam). PU foam is good because it can hold some chemicals, like polyester, but disadvantage is that it will make a lot of dust. XPS can't hold polyester, but its much cheaper, its hard, and it doesn't produce so much dust. I have coat XPS foam with styrospray, it will make very hard coat over the foam. 

I have custom build a cnc machine size of 3000x2000x1000mm for foam milling. For me cnc milling mdf is not a choice. with bigger moulds it will be very heavy plug. it will suck moisture. also its easy to broke the cnc machine if something is wrong with the g-code. (and this will happens always sometimes)