Heating blankets to post cure

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Heating blankets to post cure

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67redrocket	67redrocket posted 9 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 49, Visits: 486	I looking for post cure options. I want to make parts as large as a car hood, but I dont want to build a big oven. I have looked at these silicon heat blankets on ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/Flexible-Heaters/Silicone-Heater-Blankets-/_i.html?_fsub=10754115018&_sid=814680028&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 They are probably way to powerful so I may have to find some one that is not that powerfull per sqare cm. Iam thinking i can put some of these under the mold and wrap the mold with the heating elements with wool blankets. Then meassuring the temperature and control the heating to get the right temperature. Maybe using a PID or a temperature switch. Any thoughts?
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	I wouldn't. You want to keep in mind that PID controllers work by simply switching the heating elements on and off. The heating elements themselves still run at full power for the time they are on and can get very very hot. In an oven, blanket or aluminium mould this is OK, but if you had the heaters moulded into fibreglass then I think you would damage the resin around the elements. I think for things like this, the KISS rule is always a good idea... Edited 9 Years Ago by Hanaldo
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67redrocket	67redrocket posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 49, Visits: 486	Thank youfor the advice. I am familiar with PID controllers, I work with automation andprocess control daily. The trick to get this to work well Is probably to use aheating cable with moderate power and tune the regulator to have slow ramping against set point with no overshoot. The measured can be placed in the mold or in the vacuum stack. Each mold would require tuning and different PI parameters to be optimal. Far away from KISS but still a interesting thought. Hanaldo (20/04/2016) I wouldn't. You want to keep in mind that PID controllers work by simply switching the heating elements on and off. The heating elements themselves still run at full power for the time they are on and can get very very hot. In an oven, blanket or aluminium mould this is OK, but if you had the heaters moulded into fibreglass then I think you would damage the resin around the elements. I think for things like this, the KISS rule is always a good idea... Edited 9 Years Ago by 67redrocket
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Heating blankets to post cure

67redrocket - 9 Years Ago

That's how a lot of pre-preg boat hulls and aeroplane bodies are cured, so they do work. Quite a bit...

Hanaldo - 9 Years Ago

I use an electric blanket and a duvet to post cure large parts. Works fairly well.

FLD - 9 Years Ago

I will try this, I have ordered a PID controller, solidstate relay, heating pad and a bunch of Type...

67redrocket - 9 Years Ago

I wouldn't. You want to keep in mind that PID controllers work by simply switching the heating...

Hanaldo - 9 Years Ago

Thank youfor the advice. I am familiar with PID controllers, I work with automation andprocess...

67redrocket - 9 Years Ago

Another vote for bed hot blanket and an aloof double duvet

ajb100 - 9 Years Ago

Postcuring to reasonable temperatures can be done with a simple electric blanket and duvet for...

Warren (Staff) - 9 Years Ago

If you can make do with 99 deg. C.. why not mould in silicone hose .. then run hot water through the...

Dravis - 9 Years Ago

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