Infusion Set Up

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

Im prepping a new mold for infusing a carbon fiber part.

I started using these Toro sprinkler T’s a few months ago because they fit 3/8" outside diameter tubing perfectly. I get them at Lowes for .65 cents each. For this set up I don’t need or want to pull vacuum around the entire perimeter of the lay up. I chose the area where resin will flow the slowest, around multi radii tight areas as seen in the photo. I pull vacuum from that end of the mold. I made my own spiral wrap with a utility knife and polyethelene hose. I’ve found that when using 1/4" I.D. vacuum tubing that I need spiral wrap to pull sufficient vacuum under the vacuum bag. That and my resin is 600cps so it doesn’t infuse as quickly as say a 300 cps resin. More vacuum area is needed to pull that heavier resin thru the laminate and flow medium. I’ll run a test later with the red flow medium vs. the green i now use.

Anyways I was just hoping that these photos would help someone out with their own project.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=000_1201.jpg
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=000_1203.jpg

#2

I infused the mold lay up a few minutes ago. Man that sucker infused FAST. Took about a whole 4 minutes for the resin to wet out the cloth. I’ll leave it under full vacuum for another 8 hours so the resin can cure past B stage.

On the resin inlet I used a Toro T there also. This time I decided to drill about 7 each, 1/16" diameter holes in the center of the T so it would release resin out the center of the T also. That helped a bunch. So if you do decide to use the same T’s drill tiny holes in them and it helps with the flow.

I had no bag leaks this time either so the vacuum gauge was topped out past the 31hg mark. I’m not sure how that is possible but that’s what the gauge reads.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=vacuumgage.jpg
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=hugger-infusion.jpg

#3

excellent, did you pop it from the mold yet? good surface this time?

#4

Great ideas! Those are really called “funny pipe” tees. :slight_smile:

#5

I don’t use T’s at all don’t need them for infusion.

#6

I’ve tried it without T’s - didn’t work so well for me.

Here is the part after it was post cured and pulled from the mold. The yellow stuff is clay, i had some minor bridging in that area that I am filling in with clear epoxy. The next one I make should have no bridging.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=600rrhugger.jpg

#7

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/?action=view&current=hugger-infusion.jpg

is the side with spiral wrap the vac line? for the t and resin line do you not have the tea wrapped in flow media to help flow? learner please ignore me if im talkin crap :o

#8

over -30 :eek:

#9

Is there any reason you are using spiral wrap for such a small part? just curious.

have you tried just piping in 2 tubes? Here is a 32X17" plate that I did this weekend with no spiral tubing, just piped in 7 tubes. It infused in about 45 seconds with 455 cps resin.

Just curious if you have tried it with simple tubes. I used to used spiral wrap but found that piping in tubes works best for smaller pieces. Nice work BTW

#10

It’s ok to use multiple resin and/or vacuum lines for a single mold. I use T’s because i have gotten the best results and it uses less tubing. The spiral wrap I cut myself from PE hose. So cost of two T’s plus the PE hose was only $3.

I don’t wrap the T’s or spiral wrap in peel ply. I have wondered if wrapping the spiral tubing in peel ply would leave it reusable. I use flow media under the resin inlet T to the part and in the part is more flow media. I covered about 90% of the part with flow media. I could have used just 60 - 70% though. The spiral wrap is the vacuum end.

Another thing with infusing a plate with all those vacuum lines or resin inlet lines is protecting the plate from defects where the line pushes down onto the surface of the plate leaving impressions.

#11

since the vacuum gauge responds to different atmospheric conditions the readings you are getting are understandable especially if you pull it down and then throw some heat on it. my gauges have a small valve you can crack to allow it to normalize.

#12

hmmm
I have never had a hose leave an impression on a plate or any piece I have made.

And most spiral wrap is re-usable or at least the PE stuff is. I just unwrap it from the cured resin after it’s done