Some questions on my first resin infusion..!


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baja_patient
baja_patient
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Hi all, 

I have been working on a project for a fair while now, and I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. As you can see in the attached pictures I started out with an unflanged mould in sight of using a wet lay-up technique. 

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/3672aa2e-00f8-4b44-b041-6da0.JPG

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/1d2de1f8-b396-43d9-a713-8d3b.jpg


Due to wanting cosmetically perfect parts and after consultation from the EC staff I decided to go for resin infusion instead. 

I modified my moulds so there would be sufficient flange space by adding a frame and a high-gloss surface to ensure that I can pull 100% vac. 

I am just about ready to start my first infusion and would like a few tips.

The first mould I want to do is 70x40cm and approx. 7cm deep at its deepest point. I am planning to use 2 layers 200g carbon cloth and 2 layers of approx 150g e-glass. 

Is this a good combination and how much IN2 resin will I need based on the information?

There is breather material included in my starter pack and it is also mentioned in the instructions, yet not in the video. I assume I should be using it. 

One more question (i hope): Can the reinforcement be cut smaller than the edge of the mould, or does it have to be almost at the gum tape? 

I hope I've formulated myself correctly!

Thanks alot.

Fabian
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baja_patient
baja_patient
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Thanks for the tips so far. Status update. I managed the infusion, didnt come out quite as expected but I have definitely learned A LOT.

I bagged it up perfectly with one small leak which I sealed in seconds.The mould was airtight as expected. 

I calculated the resin quantity according to a 60/40 ratio and some more for consumables and began the infusion. It was fast, very fast. 


The 250 grams of resin which should have been perfectly adequate were used up in about 30 seconds. It was all a bit hectic and I got some air into the infusion before I could top up resin. I knew it would cause problems in the surface and was very annoyed at the time. It was only one of my problems in hindsight. 


I cured at elevated room temperature of about 33 degrees for 24 hours and went to demould. The easylease did its job perfectly, yet the part was very difficult to de-mould due to the high quantity of resin. I ended up using about 500g. 


The reason I needed so much resin became apparent as soon as I demoulded.There was no bridging in the bag whatsoever, it was tight all over the surface and the pleats did their magic. The problem was I had voids underneath the carbon, it did not reach all the recesses of my quite complex mould. It was a bit of an ambitious mould, deep and recessed in multiple ways as can be seen in the attached pictures. 


I have noted all my mistakes and will not be repeating them next time round. 


Couple of questions, 

I think I will need to tack the carbon cloth into all the recesses beforehand (pre-preg style) I will be using profinish for my top layers from now on. How do I best go about doing so? Is it even possible? 

Shall I put down a tack gel coat, shall I use 3M spray glue (if so, which one) or equivalent? 

Or is there a special product to tack the cloth into all recesses?


As you can see there are quite a few large and small air bubbles, due to the fact that air entered the feedline because the resin was busy filling the huge air voids very quickly. 


I will be extra careful next time, not to let it get too low. I have included pics of the mould, infusion, finished part, and a pic of how the body should look when its all trimmed and finished (in carbon)


thanks alot everybody, any tips whatsoever are very welcome. 

cheers

Fabian


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/12d45fbd-564b-4fa8-9acc-c8d4.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/0f6344cb-880b-4475-952c-0d2c.jpghttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/e9101562-a71b-41b4-8d87-55da.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/18f4b9b3-479c-4013-ae6c-7f20.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/557fe958-de30-43e1-b25b-acb1.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/4c86528f-9343-435e-85dd-d480.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/434e0cdc-c145-4e2a-b08d-be30.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/b5576b98-4d39-4139-ab22-f3a0.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/9fcccec4-76e7-4039-8f24-be31.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/3a9ff8fb-fd31-4d3a-a1c9-3f7b.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/2fc81476-1723-4896-902f-ef72.JPGhttp://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/0d833b84-717b-400b-84d0-b1a0.jpg


Edited 13 Years Ago by baja_patient
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