to add...

you can cut up infusion mesh into pieces or use cut lines in it so it doesnt fold.  Same with the peel ply too.

Also make your bag bigger so youve got more movement in the bag for you to manipulate the stack.

Its easier to do the manipulation under only slight vacuum, slowly building vacuum, then doing it again, then repeat.  Sometimes whacking on the pump and yanking full vacuum is just too quick so a more gentle approach may work better.

To be fair, apart from the defects youve highlighted, youre probably not that far from getting a decent surface finish. Just practice now getting it into all the corners.

Remember its a non stretch fabric, therefore it will try and ripple/fold when put onto a complex mould like yours.  Even distorting the fabric will still risk creases.

You can use spray tacks, but it will effect surface finish slightly meaning youd have to lacquer the part.

I still think you need cut lines at the very least horizontally across the light openings.  Imagine viewing the part from above and trying to place a piece of kitchen towel or similar on top.  It has to drop a long way between the top and bottom of light appertures so will cause creases/folds at the edge if you force it in.   You are already trying to stretch the fabric around the curves as it is.

I wouldnt throw away mould just yet!! remember you can use a big piece of carbon then trim it and use tape to hold the edges in position, although not too much tape as you want a bit of movement when you pull a vacuum.

Remember youre doing a complicated shape for a first part.  Had you done something simple, youd be there by now. But dont get too disheartened as by the time you get it right you will have learnt a lot more than doing a simple panel.

Overall a better part but those problem areas are still haunting me. So what are the tricks to flattening folds when dealing with uneven compound radii? Do I just try to "rub" across the fold to lay it down or do I need to pull on a different part of the fabric to "stretch" it out? 

Is there a adhesive I can use to "pin" the carbon down or is that pre-preg?

I think my next step is to make another mold with a HUGE flange so I can lay a large square piece of carbon to work with.

 

Hi, I usually make a bag of the vacuum screen when the shape does not have flanges.
Then just put the mould into the bag and seal it with tape, dont forgett to do it big....

Some are just the mesh but the 2 at the ends are carbon. Very frustrating at this point. I think I need a whole new mold with HUGE flat flanges all around so I can lay flat square pieces of carbon and use the stretch bagging to help with the contours. I'm tapped out with funds and ideas at this point. I don't even have enough gel coat or putty to make another mold!! This is exhausting!

my resin just got here and is too cold to use tonight but ill try tomorrow. I have to re-bag anyways because I poked a hole in it with the bottom of the mold(cardboard broke under vacuum)

are the folds in the carbon itself or just the mesh??

you can cut the mesh up to make it lay better.

The plug from my desk computer works for the pump.

 I keep getting these two folds on either side of the light openings. I tried to tape on the flange with no success. Then I bagged the whole part with a piece of cardboard under it so the bag wouldn't pop on the mold. The bag was easier to work with but those 2 folds are getting me SO FRUSTRATED!

 I thought the bagging process would help flatten out the folds I was getting during wet lay but they just crease the flap and keep me from being able to reposition because its in a bag.





This part is not even touching the mold as well as the whole outside "lip" it wont tuck under.

Pretty much any travel store or electrical store should have an adaptor.  Unless of course youre in one of those places in the US where the acknowledgement of life outside the USA is non existant.    You could of course just fit a US plug.  Remember to ensure the voltage is set correctly on the pump too.

I ordered your vacuum kit on Friday and its already here!! Great packing and super fast shipping! The rest of the world could learn a thing or two from EC. If I may make one suggestion tho, the vacuum pump only has a UK wall plug. Maybe an adapter for your US customers or at least a warning. I did not realize the plug would not work in the US. I'm trying to find an adapter now, any suggestions?

I modified the mold for vacuum



Will the new putty stick to the dry putty? I hope so or I just wasted 1550g putty.

How much gell coat should I mix to cover my new flange it measures 2.3/4" X 48"(inches)

Thanks

Chris