Hello, new here.

First Stop Introductions
#1

Hello,

I’m new to the forum, never knew it existed until a couple days ago. I am currently looking for some place to use my skills.

The last several years I worked at a major composite shop on the east side of country. I choose not to list there name for personal reasons.

I have since moved from that geographic region. I have come to the realization that there are no composite shops in the area.

I think it’s time to start my own shop, make the things and run the business I think it should be ran.

I have concerns, as anyone else probably would. One main thing is all my experience dealt with Pre-preg materials, cured in an autoclave. I never had to do any other kind of process except some tooling was made wet-layup but I never participated in such activities.

I want to start right up with resin infusion system. I have many questions, and I have read a lot of post the past couple of days. I think it’s very cool to see all the different ways to attempt the perfect part. Everyone has there own little thing they do that makes their pieces the way they like them.

This post is getting a little windy so I’ll stop jabbering. Thanks for the community, hopefully I can help out somewhere.

#2

Welcome aboard Earle,
It sounds like your first concern might be studying Plug prep and mold development. I’ve done very few molds over the years doing the exact set-ups…each part is different, so getting familiar with the myriad of techniques that are known and yet discovered is where this all goes for each of us.
Working outside your lab from the East might prove a difficult transition if Infusion is your goal since pre-preg is much easier to handle and load.
What type of parts are you mainly interested in producing first ?

#3

absolutely every project is different, basic concepts the same but never done the same ways. As far as plug prep, that is my thing, I can do that all day long. I think I will have some learning about mold making, and infusion.

First plan is to do overlays to get used to infusion and wet layup. I will probably do automotive, and I have some ideas for furniture and another industry that I’m choosing not to mention at this time, for personal reasons.

Thanks for the welcome, I’m sure I’ll be asking lot’s of questions and this looks like the place to be for that.