Filling voids advice - like Bugatti


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ant...
ant...
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So I've been working on producing a carbon fibre coffee cup for many years, I want it to be perfect and its almost there.  For the past 2 years I've had the project on the back burner having spent many thousands on equipment and tests.  But last week watching the How Its Made featuring the Bugatti Veyron, I saw how their carbon nose cone always comes out with voids in tights places and that these areas were repaired to produce a flawless finish.  That made me think my process might be good enough and I can finish my cup with a few repairs.

These images show how my cup is one solid piece but the outside is always susceptible to tiny bubbles or sometimes voids, the inside is almost always perfect.  

My Process - The alloy mould is secured in a vacuum chamber while infusion resin is pumped from the mixing container into the mould from its base, this enables the cup to be one piece with all smooth sides and the vacuum chamber limits bubbles & voids.  My next test will include curling the mould in a high pressure oven maybe 100psi (pressure cooker LOL).  But I've tried loads of ways to get a 100% perfect result and id become disappointed until I saw the Bugatti repair process.
With a little help I mights just get a finished mug...

Question - Can these voids be filled?  any suggestions?  

Im guessing sand the holes back to remove any release agent, maybe with some acetone and fill with a syringe of general epoxy.  then rub it back to a perfect round finish.


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/1325fe1e-b6ed-43f5-a978-b7bc.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/b19d8eb0-a52c-4d6e-8bfd-e10a.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/8b8a7c94-3f7d-46e3-a3e3-c511.JPGBTW this big hole is drilled to practice fitting the carbon handle.
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fgayford
fgayford
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ant... (03/03/2015)
So I've been working on producing a carbon fibre coffee cup for many years, I want it to be perfect and its almost there.  For the past 2 years I've had the project on the back burner having spent many thousands on equipment and tests.  But last week watching the How Its Made featuring the Bugatti Veyron, I saw how their carbon nose cone always comes out with voids in tights places and that these areas were repaired to produce a flawless finish.  That made me think my process might be good enough and I can finish my cup with a few repairs.

These images show how my cup is one solid piece but the outside is always susceptible to tiny bubbles or sometimes voids, the inside is almost always perfect.  

My Process - The alloy mould is secured in a vacuum chamber while infusion resin is pumped from the mixing container into the mould from its base, this enables the cup to be one piece with all smooth sides and the vacuum chamber limits bubbles & voids.  My next test will include curling the mould in a high pressure oven maybe 100psi (pressure cooker LOL).  But I've tried loads of ways to get a 100% perfect result and id become disappointed until I saw the Bugatti repair process.
With a little help I mights just get a finished mug...

Question - Can these voids be filled?  any suggestions?  

Im guessing sand the holes back to remove any release agent, maybe with some acetone and fill with a syringe of general epoxy.  then rub it back to a perfect round finish.


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/1325fe1e-b6ed-43f5-a978-b7bc.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/b19d8eb0-a52c-4d6e-8bfd-e10a.JPG http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/8b8a7c94-3f7d-46e3-a3e3-c511.JPGBTW this big hole is drilled to practice fitting the carbon handle.





I am always dealing with unavoidable pin holes and pits. No matter how good you are you will get some. What I do is first light sand with 280 paper and wash down with acetone. Now you will see every pit as shiney. You must abraid each pit. I use a small sculpting file that I put into the pit and then spin it in my fingers until its scuffed. Do all your pits and then blow off with air. Acetone wipe and blow again. I use the easycomposite skinning resin because it is so thick. Use a tooth pick or the like and force the resin into the pit. You can swipe over the surface with a heat gun to really liquify the resin dap some more to be proud of the surface. Once cured wet sand flat and do again if needed. In escence you are using the resin as you would a bondo filler. Clear coat and wet sand flat. Any remaining voids will be slight so use the same technique using clear coat on your tooth pick until you are perfectly flat. Clear wet sand and polish and your done.
Hope this helps.
Fred   

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