Anybody have example instructions or videos on how you would vaccum infuse something like the picture below. My part is going to be more complex, but this simple picture showing a bowl/box with a walls in between. Thought about making two boxes and bonding them together, but I imagine i would lose strength.
Looks like three epoxy inlets at every single bowl center and spiral evacuation tube at the entire upper edge.
Which side is the mold on? Outside or inside?
is this the end product? or the mold?
This would be the final product.
The mold I could make simply, but how do you place the cloth in that tight of a space. Seems impossible.
Has anybody made a bowl, box or something with a wall or divider?
what is the cosmetic face? If it’s the internal, you can build an internal mold, it doesn’t seem difficult. If the divider is full, you can glue the fabric layers together, or you can use an internal core like balsa to reach the righ thickness, with fabric layers outside glue with the core. Or if the divider is empty, you can do like the core of balsa, but instead of glue fabric with the core, you can detach it with wax (but wood isn’t the best material because it’s porous)and remove it after infusion. Only and idea…or with a “core” made with silicone, so you haven’t problem to remove it after infusion
i like the silicone pads idea, would work well I believe. better make sure you have some positive draft on all those walls, lot’s of drag there.
If the internal is visual, you can layup over a silicone back mould, which also acts as vacuum bag.
If double sided, you can VARTM the thing in 2 hard moulds. If you need to make many, you can order fiber preforms, which dramatically reduce prodction time.
Not worried about cosmetics. It will not be seen and is actually a frame.
So I make a mold of the bowl or the box. When ready to do the parts lay in a couple of layers of carbon, place my divider in that will be made of some sort of core material and infuse?
I wonder how boats with stringers are made? They always we layups? Never infused?
Looks something like this…
You can purchase T’s, or make them yourself, and secondary bond them to the main box as well.
So the stringers must be hallow. I am hoping for a stringer/divider about 3/4" width that is solid and strong.