Hi i’m new to this so i’d really appreciate some guidance.
For a first project i have decided to produce some carbon wing mirror covers.
Here is the original part, or one of them at least.
first i have used modelling clay to set the part on a base board
next job will be to apply a release wax.
looking nice so far!
Looks good, make the flanges nice and big around the base of the part, you have set it onto a nice big table so you’ve got no excuses! big flanges give you a nice big area to which you can appy your vac bag and tape, making bagging an easier task.
Here is the part with Epoxy tooling gel coat
In would like the finished part to be about the same thickness as the original which is approx 1.5mm thick, i was thinking of using 2 plies of twill weave carbon 260gsm and make up the thickness using woven glass matt, this is where i need some advice, what is a suitable glass to use? and how many layers?
are you wet laying or infusing? Looks like you been to carbonmods lol;)
Infusing, yes carbonmods / easy composites have been very helpful.
if your infusing 2 layers will be no where near 2mm less than 1mm infact. the layers get pressed together. Did you buy the infusion kit? It started me off.
As a guide a 200 gsm ply of 3k 2x2 twill carbon is approx 0.25mm thick when layed up and vac bagged. therefore 4 ply’s of 200 gsm carbon would be 1mm thick.
So if I want a part around 1.5mm thick but don’t want to use all carbon, 2x 200gsm carbon and 4 x 200gsm glass?
yes that will be around that thickness, providing that the glass is of a simular type of cloth as the carbon cloth.
I also found I couldn’t get a good enough seal on the catch pot so make sure you test it.
Time to reinforce the mould, was going to use csm / resin for this, what do you suggest? I have seen a type of putty with fibre strands in it, what do you guys use for this type of job. Also, where do you uk guys get supplies from?
I get some stuff from carbonmods and some from eastcoast supplies. The fibreglass putty is a lot of money for the amount you get. I use fibreglass and optimould resin to back my mould. Does smell though so beware. You know you dont have to use epoxy gel coat its cheaper to use polyester tooling gel coat even if your using epoxy resin for your part. You can use optimould for your mould though because its epoxy and optimould is polyester.
drtcmm is totally correct about using Polyester tooling gelcoat instead of the epoxy gelcoat.
Eastcoast fibreglass are amoungst the cheapest over here and are very helpfull people.
Here’s where i’m at, just put 4 layers of csm onto the back of the mould using polyester resin,will it need more layers?
I think for this product it should be enough. Your mould is now some 3-4mm thick.
hey… after you trim your part glue some breather around the edge so it wraps around the edges real nice. less likely to pop on you.
looks great so far.
Please explain? Not sure I understand?
original part pulled from the mould and mould trimmed
