Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

precaution when trimming your part ?

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic6301.aspx

By Jess8bit - 6/4/2013 8:27:58 PM

Hi guys,

Do you take any particular precaution when you trim your part with your Dremel ? How do you protect the surface from scratches that may occur during the trimming ?

I've had this problem : the srface was nice after demolding. After triiming the part, I've jad the bad surprise of observing many scratches and holes in the surface. My assumption is that I made the scratches myself simply by holding the part with my hand (with gloves on) and handling it durng the process (maybe because of carbone dust ?).

Hence the question. I'm thinking about covering the surface with a plastic film hold by masking tape all around the part edges.

What do you think ?

thank you !!
By Jess8bit - 6/24/2013 8:50:24 AM

CarbonMike (23/06/2013)
fgayford (05/06/2013)
It almost looks like the epoxy is not cured to a hard state and the sanding dust is fusing into the soft surface?


This without a doubt. I am a composite trimmer/fitter/laminator by trade, and have seen this happen many many times on virgin parts.
Thank you CarbonMike Smile

What I do now is I wait for 48hrs+ before demolding. 

What I could try is some post curing to reduc this delay, I guess.