Stiffen a mould

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Stiffen a mould

Stiffen a mould

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Massimiliano	M Massimiliano posted 5 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
M Group: Forum Members Posts: 167, Visits: 1.1K	Hi, so I have this mould that will be used just one time and theb scrapped. It is made with epoxy gelcoat and a few layers of 200gsm cloth laminated with epoxy. I want to infuse the part and I think the mould is too flexible for the job. What do you suggest as the cheapest way to stiffen it? I was thinking about breather cloth impregnated with cheap polyester resin but maybe you have better and cheaper ideas? Thanks for any advice! Attachments signal-2020-12-22-180817.jpg (230 views, 480.00 KB)
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	No, it just won't stick to it very well.
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Massimiliano	M Massimiliano posted 5 Years Ago HOT Post Details
M Group: Forum Members Posts: 167, Visits: 1.1K	+x Hanaldo - 12/23/2020 11:47:40 PM No, it just won't stick to it very well. Thank you! I am asking as I don't like to waste an expensive epoxy on a tool that will be scrapped after one use. At the same time there is the polyester shrinkage factor and related mold potential distortjons to take into consideration, so I maybe end up using epoxy.
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Stiffen a mould

mporta71 - 5 Years Ago

Breather cloth with polyester will not work at all: there are not fibres, that would make the mould any stiffer, the polyester resin will shrink a lot and warp the mould, and polyester resin does not...

oekmont - 5 Years Ago

As oakmont says, eps or some foam or even wood strips used as stiffening ribs. Couple of layers of glass over and it should help considerably.

Warren (Staff) - 5 Years Ago

Thank you both for your suggestions! Would polyester damage in any way the epoxy?

mporta71 - 5 Years Ago

No, it just won't stick to it very well.

Hanaldo - 5 Years Ago

Thank you! I am asking as I don't like to waste an expensive epoxy on a tool that will be scrapped after one use. At the same time there is the polyester shrinkage factor and related mold potential.....

mporta71 - 5 Years Ago

Depending on the size & shape of your mold, it may be more effective to cut some strips of MDF (or whatever other stiff material you have around) roughly to match the outside (or back) of the mold,.....

raygun - 5 Years Ago

MDF is not dimensionally stable, it changes dimension quite dramatically with weather and temperature. Unlikely to be an issue with a one-off mould though. It is also quite likely with rigid support...

Hanaldo - 5 Years Ago

Hmmm. I should say, it's a lot more dimensionally stable than, say, typical dimensional lumber. That stuff "grows" quite a bit with changes in humidity. The MDF torsion box I built for my....

raygun - 5 Years Ago

Yeh the forces involved in print through are very strong. It is typically more an issue for elevated temp tooling, you tend to get away with it more for ambient stuff, but it can still catch you out....

Hanaldo - 5 Years Ago

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