Metal inserts - Carbon fiber layup


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Trace Elliott
Trace Elliott
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Hello everyone,

I'm designing a drone, and I would like to be able to bolt two plates together (rather than use an adhesive, because if something breaks, I'd prefer to be able to change the piece that broke, rather than a whole assembly).
The plates would be 2-3mm thick, made by resin infusion.
To that effect (bolting plates together), I'd like to put a metallic insert in the lamination, prior to the infusion.
The insert would be a nut, essentially.
I know you can make the plate, then drill a hole and glue the insert, but I'd rather infuse the whole thing at once, if it's possible.

My question is: how do you put an insert in the fiber stack?
I read everywhere that you should have pins in the mould to accurately locate the inserts, but very little info on how to blend the insert in the fiber stack.

Should I spread the fibers apart? I'm thinking that won't look good
Should I punch a hole through the stack? Hello fibers everywhere...
Should I lay the first cloth and spread the others around the insert, and grind the first layer to reveal the insert?

If you have any ideas, please do tell :-)

Thank you very much!
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scottracing
scottracing
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Apart from when ive been laying up prepreg tooling ive never put inserts into the laminate stack. Its always been the case to cold bond in inserts after the composite has cured and usually post cured. A decent structural adhesive will create a bond that will not fail before the laminate, but you must ensure that the metallic insert is properly abraded and cleaned afterwards, the same with the composite. 
This also allows you to place the inserts in the correct place as they can move about when you place them in the layup.
if you do want to place them in the correct place then use nylon dowel to keep them in place.
GO

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