Composite Landing gear for RC copter

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#1

Hi

I am planning to make a landing gear for my rc copter.

Please check the image attached.

There are 2 ways I think I will be able to manufacture it.

  1. Make an aluminium part of the same shape by bending an aluminium plate of sufficient thickness.
    Use that aluminium part as a male mould to vacuum bag my glass fiber/carbon composite landing gear on it.

  2. Make a proper 2 piece mould with the gap in between them acting as the design part shape.

I like the first method because it will be cheaper to make and it will let me play around with thickness as required by trial and error.
Since the part is open from one side and there being no undercut the landing gear should easily come off without damage.

What type or release agent/mechanism should be ideal?
Some dIY community suggest using aluminium foil to wrap the aluminium part/male mold should be enough.

#2

definitely go with the bent aluminum. It’s cheap and easy, I’ve done this and it works pretty nicely. For release use a semi permanent like freekote, or a paste wax. I"ve also used aluminum as a release surface, works ok if you can keep it down and not mess it up. A wax or liquid release would probably be easier for a simple part like this.

Should be a pretty easy part and come out nicely.