Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

CNC Machining and Finishing Epoxy Tooling Board to Produce and Accurate Composites Pattern

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic24236.aspx

By Matt (Staff) - 11/11/2017 9:42:42 AM

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully a few of you have noticed that we've been publishing a number of new video tutorials recently. I've now published the first two (out of three) of a new series which shows the end-to-end process for starting from a CAD design, CNC machining the pattern from epoxy block then sealing and preparing the pattern before taking a prepreg carbon fibre mould off the pattern. In the next video (not done yet) we'll finish off by using the prepreg mould to produce a carbon fibre part.

Essentially, in this series what we're trying to demonstrate is the 'other way' to make composite parts, using technology and high tech materials to replace the more manual traditional methods. This is a topic that comes up every time during our training courses and so hopefully this is a process (and tutorial series) that people will find interesting (and maybe useful). The price of perfectly usable CNC equipment is coming down all the time and the quality and availability of 3D CAD systems (like Fusion360) is moving the baseline of what is achievable at home or in a small workshop or business. Our new products and tutorials aim to support this revolution. Also, in this current climate where people are very focused on the idea that 3D printers are the answer to everything, hopefully we can steer a few people towards the understanding that for most composites processes a CNC router is a far more suitable piece of kit to invest in.

So, this first tutorial in the series we demonstrate how to CNC machine epoxy tooling board and then seal and finish it using epoxy board sealer.


I'd be very happy to discuss any of the topics raised in the videos including how these processes and materials might be used in your projects.
By Premium Composites - 11/28/2017 12:52:03 PM

Hi,

Great tutorials, very interesting for a project I am working on. However, my pattern is already produced using PU600 and not EB700, finished off with 2K car paint. Will this work with the XPREG Tooling Prepreg?


Best Regards,
Anders
By Sebasan - 7/20/2018 2:28:51 PM

 
scottracing - 7/19/2018 8:39:52 PM
very nice tool, did you use prepreg composites?


Hi Scottracing,

I did not use prepreg and I think it was a mistake. I aplied 18 layer of wet carbon and by the time I was about to finish, the resin started to react and had to rush to put it in the bag. I had a couple of resin pockets and I was wondering if that was the result of too many layers and tight radius on the tool. Also had a leacky bag and probably that was the main cause of the problem.

Need to make a few more parts and probably I'm going to try prepreg. Need to make a little of research though.