Using 3D printed part for a core to overcoat with epoxy and carbon / hand layup

Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Back

Using 3D printed part for a core to overcoat with epoxy and carbon / hand layup

Author	Message
Joe LaCour	J Joe LaCour posted 5 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
J Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 15	I have an idea to make a component out of carbon fiber and in the past i would have carved up some foam for a core and overlaid epoxy and glass or carbon fiber. Now that I have a 3D printer, I am considering printing the core and overlay with cloth and epoxy. When searching the forum, I found only references to using 3D printing for a mold. Maybe I did not search correctly. Has there been anyone with experience doing this? The core would be in several pieces and bonded together. Preferably PLA and West System epoxy.
	Reply Like 8
LibertyMKiii	L LibertyMKiii posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
L Group: Forum Members Posts: 19, Visits: 110	+x Joe LaCour - 8/4/2020 9:18:10 PM I have an idea to make a component out of carbon fiber and in the past i would have carved up some foam for a core and overlaid epoxy and glass or carbon fiber. Now that I have a 3D printer, I am considering printing the core and overlay with cloth and epoxy. When searching the forum, I found only references to using 3D printing for a mold. Maybe I did not search correctly. Has there been anyone with experience doing this? The core would be in several pieces and bonded together. Preferably PLA and West System epoxy. My 3D printer certainly is not dialed in but found that it needed lots of sanding and prep to make a mould from the print. Sanded, primed, body filler, more primer then a mould could be made. Sanded and mounted onto wood. Total length is around 31 inches (done in 6 prints due to my printers limitations) After much bodywork all waxed ready to make the mould:
	Reply Like 5
LibertyMKiii	L LibertyMKiii posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
L Group: Forum Members Posts: 19, Visits: 110	+x Joe LaCour - 8/4/2020 9:18:10 PM I have an idea to make a component out of carbon fiber and in the past i would have carved up some foam for a core and overlaid epoxy and glass or carbon fiber. Now that I have a 3D printer, I am considering printing the core and overlay with cloth and epoxy. When searching the forum, I found only references to using 3D printing for a mold. Maybe I did not search correctly. Has there been anyone with experience doing this? The core would be in several pieces and bonded together. Preferably PLA and West System epoxy. Sorry just re-read and you wanted to skin your parts with composites. I have done this on a small wing and it worked fine. Easy Composites has a good video on YT for the skinning process that you should watch.
	Reply Like 6
Joe LaCour	J Joe LaCour posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
J Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 15	Thanks for the Easy Composites YT videos. Looks like a lot of information I need to assimilate. thanks
	Reply Like 5
Joe LaCour	J Joe LaCour posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
J Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 15	+x Joe LaCour - 8/7/2020 3:24:28 PM Thanks for the Easy Composites YT videos. Looks like a lot of information I need to assimilate. thanks Which video did you see EC using a 3D printed plug?
	Reply Like 6
LibertyMKiii	L LibertyMKiii posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
L Group: Forum Members Posts: 19, Visits: 110	+x Joe LaCour - 8/7/2020 5:01:08 PM +x Joe LaCour - 8/7/2020 3:24:28 PM Thanks for the Easy Composites YT videos. Looks like a lot of information I need to assimilate. thanks Which video did you see EC using a 3D printed plug? Their video is not a 3d printed core, but skinning a solid object would be the same despite what the material is. This video they are skinning a gun stock. You should be able to follow this procedure the same. It takes a good bit of sanding Easy Composites skinning video
	Reply Like 5
Joe LaCour	J Joe LaCour posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
J Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 15	Thanks
	Reply Like 5
CeeBee	C CeeBee posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
C Group: Forum Members Posts: 2, Visits: 33	I too am in the process of starting to 3D print a part to either CF skin of use as a mold. There are some ideas that have done so on the Westfield Sports Car Club site. https://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/topic/137313-velocity-stacks/page/2/
	Reply Like 6
janherich	j janherich posted 4 Years Ago HOT Post Details
j Group: Forum Members Posts: 6, Visits: 334	You may be interested in Slicer designed specifically for lightweight/stiff panels, eq perfect fit for 3D printed composite cores - it aims to compete with structural foams/honeycombs in performance. It's of course it's perfectly doable to slice your core model with any other slicer, but because of classic slicing process limitations, the core with sufficient stiffness will end-up significantly heavier then strictly needed - fine for pattern/dimensional prototype, less then stellar for functional prototype/production part.
	Reply Like 5