Looking for some manufacturers opinions

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#1

I have a question for you guys that make parts out of fiberglass/gelcoat molds. I have (not yet for sale) a patent pending process that allows the mold to be constructed with the gelcoat layer acting as a heating element. The temperature is read by a small wire/thermocouple embedded in the mold and sends the data to a controller which rasies the heat based on a program or manual setting you put in the controller. The molds will be built the same as normal, except for a few small things that need to be added during the construction. Mold temperature can be regulated to hold at room temperature or raised to exotherm temps. Tested sizes are 10 square feet so far, but can go bigger, but I haven’t tested that big yet. It operates off 110ac. And well under $2k for all parts involved. After that, its the price of the gelcoat for each mold, not 2k for each mold. The controller box can be used with multiple molds.

Here is an example of how this works in a regular gel/fiberglass part construction. The mold starts at room temp, gelcoat it, then run up the temperature, manually or on a program, to 100-150-170 or whatever is determined best, then cut-off or ramp down the temp to room temperature, lay the laminates, apply the heat again to the temp and time length needed to cure the laminate, cut-off or ramp down the temperature again and pull the part. I’ve demostrated this over and over and over again. The parts-per-mold-per-hour is much different than the regular process. Of course if its cold outside or inside the mold can be held at whatever temp is needed too.

Looking for feedback and opinions about what you think, I’m not selling or taking orders. A good idea???

#2

Well with Fiberglass with PER, it is a chemical reaction with the MEKP (cataylst) and the Cobalt in the PER that creates the heat to cure.

This may help out epoxy resin matrix that is a long work time but let’s hear from others…

#3

Correct about the promoted resins. The purpose of the heat for a number of reasons. For Example, one company in the tub and shower industry run thier fiberglass molds on a track and through ovens to speed the cure. For instance, as they move down the mold is gelcoated, run through an oven for rapid cure, cools down while moving along the track still, chopper gun is used to lay down the bulk laminate and then through another oven it goes. More parts per mold per day is the end result. A large truck manufacturer is glassing in hose through thier fiberglass molds to circulate warm water to keep up the temps and promote a faster cure for the same purpose. Both use polyester materials. This falls in line with some aspects. Your idea of the epoxy is true, I haven’t put much thought into that side of the resin systems.