Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

V-shaped twill when skinning

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic8889.aspx

By StanTheMan - 12/19/2013 2:01:24 PM

Hi guys,

Thinking of giving this V-shape a go (you know, the Pagani/Koenigsegg thing). I just don't know how to approach this correctly. I'm using dry fabric (no pre-preg) so obviously, I will have to use something to hold the fabric together when I cut it because it will simply fall apart and I will not be able to get anything aligned in a V-shape. I know that if I use some painters tape it will hold the fabric well and I can align it but I will have to leave the tape there because if I try to pull it off, it will destroy the fabric. I guess my question is, if I leave the tape there and apply the fabric on the tacky gel coat, would that be a problem? It will obviously be on the backside of the fabric but I was concerned whether I will have adhesion problems where the tape is? Or if that's a no-good method, I'm open to suggestions Smile

Regards,
Stan
By Zero Mass Motorsports - 12/23/2013 8:02:57 PM

I've done V-weave placements for decades the same way. I lightly mist the Carbon cloth layer out on a large surface cutting table, then carefully roll out and over a sheet of poly plastic sheet previously coated with semi-perm release.

Once in place I use a long aluminum straight edge to and a very sharp razor to make the alignment slice.

Flip the cloth for an opposing weave direction and razor cut it. I'll loosen the plastic sheet just before I lay the opposing weave layer to avoid struggle.

My mold is pre-scribed for such applications making it easier to install the first and second ply. Second ply overlaps by 1/2". I'll reverse the weaves again for the back-up layers to keep things even.