annoying cf twill

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

Wondering if people are having the same issues with CF twill as I do and how they get around them.

My twill is constantly deforming. When I cut it, when I lay it, it seems this stuff is almost impossible to manage to keep perfect. Keep in mind I am a perfectionist. I am wondering if this is normal and if so, how people manage to work around it? I have heard of the wax paper thing but I cant see it working on complex curves. How are you bike guys laying your ferrings?? How did the dash guys get those so perfect? I need some advice as I find myself wasting wayyyyy too much carbon! also, are the problems the same with normal weave CF?

Thanks

#2

evan, no matter how hard you try there will always be the odd imperfection. On something complicated like my dash it is important to plan thoroughly how you are going to lay the cloth, understanding how it will react to the contours. What i have been trying recently and been successful with is 3M 75 as well as 3M 77, the 75 is a repositionable adhesive, good tac but doesnt for want of a better phrase go off like the 77. I have sprayed the whole side of cloth im laying in the mold it holds the weave together but still allows it to distort/move for the contours.

Baz

#3

I will tell you what I am doing. All starting from the mold, every time I am thinking how to create the mold so the cloth goes very easy without problems. In the places that the mold have too many curves, I put the cloth in two or three pieces just to make straight lines. The only think is when you put the next cloth you must careful the stripes, must be the same. First of course you must spray the cloth before install it to the mold.
My opinion is to install the cloth to all big areas of the mold and secondly all the other difficult parts. You must think backwards everytime.

#4

also different fabrics have different feels. I ordered a roll of twill a couple months ago that was so soft. That made it really really easy to screw the weave up cause it stuck too good to my gel coat. I ended up selling the roll and got a stiffer fabric

#5

How do you know the stiffness of the cloth? Is there any specification that tells how stiff the cloth is?

#6

I don’t think that someone can tell you the stiffness. I think this depending from the factory, me to ether I find sometime differences from different shops. I don’t know, but if someone knows I want to here it.

#7

i dont know know how to tell the difference and I think it is depending on the manufacture