I’m starting to look into equipment and pricing for hot compression molding.
If you know of a good company to work with on buying a set up… chime in.
What we want to acomplish at our shop:
I mean i can shop around, but i’m sure some here have done that and found the best solution and pricing.
I assume you are talking about a Platen Press. If that is so, Wabash makes very dependable ones that are electrically heated.
As far as production rates go, depending on the resin system and cure schedule (ramp up and down, or in hot/out hot), you should be on target.
the foot print of the machine will depend on the size of the platens. If I recall correctly the 24" x24"press that was at another company I worked for was about a 3’x6’ footprint
get ready to drop some dimes.
Haha, absolutely. It would be best to look around and get familiar with pricing.
I see no mention of the layup method. Wet layup, infusion, or prepreg? The press won’t magically harden fabrics.
epoxy resin wet lay up, possibly prepreg.
If the product lends itself to it, you can throw in your laminate dry, pour in resin in the middle, or in a cross shape, and close the press…
Also, in the top mould design, you can design the very edge of the part much thinner than the rest. This will have 2 effects: The highly compressed fibers in that “break line” will stop the resin, so if there are other areas that have no resin yet, the resin is forced up there and second, after cure, you are able to break the part on that edge, no need for cutting tools, just a light rub with sandpaper.
You can start using thermoplastic prepregs as well. There are several styles of hotpresses. Some just heat an cool the platen, some the mold itself. In the end, to achieve fast production, the mold should be heated/cooled quickly. You can rarely take a hot part out of the mold and retain it’s shape, however, depends on the resin!!! Some might be fine with no thermal issues by taken out. The mold can be made so you have a few parts in each mold.
Good ideas on thermoplastic, and also pouring the resin over the cloth. I definately want to go this route and with heated platen and tool so the press may be used with various tools and resin.
In the meantime I’m very excited as our “intern” is a business guy in the oil and gas business. He says he is going to build us a small autoclave… about 3ft x 6ft He has the pressure vessel and will have a welder make the door & stand.
Bewarned that you need to have certifications to be able to build a autoclave. I am sure there are some very high fines for uncertified autoclaves.
And some even higher Hospital bills if something goes wrong.:sad:
I have priced out small autoclaves(2’x4’) and thought they were not unreasonable, just don’t buy one from China.
just make sure you have all the paperwork for it, If you dont they will shut down your autoclave you can never start it up again(legally).
Is there not something like “Steam agency” like in Holland?
Anything that is pressurised over a certain amount, needs to be brought to an agency here, to be tested and scrutineered.
Even modelbuilders of steam engines bring in their machines. I believe the athmosphere is relaxed, and prices very doable, as I never heard any complaints, even if the machine is disqualified.
umm…does this include using a paint pressure bucket in an oven?
Your intern, a business guy in the oil and gas industry is building an autoclave…
I dunno man… I think an autoclave should be left to a qualified engineer to design.
Stress and fatigue needs to be calculated, the door and hinge is a very important design in an autoclave. If it fails… Then there in nitrogen injection e.t.c. It cost a lot to run an autoclave, small or large. That’s why you only see well established businesses using them.
Stick to infusion and post curing in an oven till you build up your business. Then consult an engineer or company to fit an autoclave. They should also provide training for autoclave operations.
Just buy an autoclave. If you can afford to, the business is doing well. Otherwise, I’d say it’s totally out of the questions.
I am going to hold off at least a few months on the autoclave. We are moving into a bigger shop this month.