Hi Everyone,

Hopefully a few of you have noticed that we've been publishing a number of new video tutorials recently. I've now published the first two (out of three) of a new series which shows the end-to-end process for starting from a CAD design, CNC machining the pattern from epoxy block then sealing and preparing the pattern before taking a prepreg carbon fibre mould off the pattern. In the next video (not done yet) we'll finish off by using the prepreg mould to produce a carbon fibre part.

Essentially, in this series what we're trying to demonstrate is the 'other way' to make composite parts, using technology and high tech materials to replace the more manual traditional methods. This is a topic that comes up every time during our training courses and so hopefully this is a process (and tutorial series) that people will find interesting (and maybe useful). The price of perfectly usable CNC equipment is coming down all the time and the quality and availability of 3D CAD systems (like Fusion360) is moving the baseline of what is achievable at home or in a small workshop or business. Our new products and tutorials aim to support this revolution. Also, in this current climate where people are very focused on the idea that 3D printers are the answer to everything, hopefully we can steer a few people towards the understanding that for most composites processes a CNC router is a far more suitable piece of kit to invest in.

So, this first tutorial in the series we demonstrate how to CNC machine epoxy tooling board and then seal and finish it using epoxy board sealer.


I'd be very happy to discuss any of the topics raised in the videos including how these processes and materials might be used in your projects.

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

Very nice oekmont, certainly far more than I would ever need for the size of my business as it is! Very envious though, I'd love to play around with some serious equipment.

Cumberdale, thanks for that mate, I appreciate that advice. I did wonder what you were using for working with your tooling board and had hoped you would chime in, so I'll keep that in mind. I think the initial excitement has died down a bit now, so I'll be happy enough just playing around with the CAM simulations in F360 and seeing if I can get all of that right. Fortunately one of my customers actually owns a commercial CNC workshop, and he has all sorts of serious 3/4/5 axis CNC machines. He has offered to mill stuff for me if I do the drawings and things, so that may be a good way to start having a play and understanding how things work, I just always felt a little embarrassed to use a 5m x 5m machine to mill down a 150mm piece of tooling block! 😅