Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Large Tube - Closed split mould

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic39893.aspx

By Robert72 - 2/21/2021 10:22:54 AM

Hello all, posting again after working overseas for a bit. Hope you are all well etc. First of all thank you for taking time to read this, it may be slightly long winded.

I made my split mould for a large diameter tube. The mould is 300mm id x 400 od x 1500mm long. So far I have attempted to bag the layup, sealing on the on the inner mould surface. Of course this was useless because of the splits.
The next attempt was to envelope bag, I couldn't get a vacuum probably due to the bag piercing on the mould exterior.
So the next thing I was going to try was breather clothing the exterior and envelope bagging, until it dawned on me that the resin is going to migrate through the splits into the breather and make a right old mess.
So what are my options? I have considered silicon sealing the splits on the exterior and proceeding with the envelope in an attempt to stem the flow of resin into the breather. Or I could perhaps resin up the exterior and attempt to seal the bag on the interior again, basically seal the splits and treat it as a large panel type bagging.
Any thoughts on the best option going forward in an attempt to get this part complete. The second option is preferred as it will simplify bagging greatly (this is heavy and enveloping is difficult). I realise there is probably no right or wrong answer as such, however any input from you experienced moulders would be greatly appreciated. Pictures to follow:
By Robert72 - 3/27/2021 8:42:50 PM

 
Chris Rogers - 3/26/2021 2:13:17 PM
That's beautiful!  The distortion happens - was this near the feed line?  

Chris, i'm not sure what end that was. Some of the cloth did not lay flat perhaps due to a combination of the thick layup and also the difficulty of managing the layup in the enclosed mould.