Hi all, I started playing with composites about a year ago & have learnt a bit since then. All of these parts have been for micro light aircraft. The latest pieces I'm trying to produce are 10mm x 45mm x 405mm bars. My first attempt was just a simple layup sandwedged between 2 molds. The results were that it weighs the same as an aluminium equivalent. So the only way to improve on this would be to do a vacuum infusion.
I made a vacuum pump that pulls about 26Hg max, Is this enough?
How can I insure that the carbon tow is fully saturated at the bottom of the mold?

 The mold is "C" channel & I don't plan on using the second half on the mold.

I saw a guy make a landing gear spring with tow in a compression mold. what he did was use one continual strand bundle of tow that he tied off and then went through the mold wrapped around a nail and then he wove it back through the mold and out the other side and wrapped it around another  nail and looped back through the mold again. So in this way he built up all the tow strands needed and wetting it out as he went. Now when he clamped it the tow could not move because it was held taunt by the nails. Now clamp with all the pressure you can and all the excess resin will come out the ends.

Hope this helps.

Fred