They have been messing somewhat with the products and product numbers, and also keep in mind that if you want smaller quantities, you are stuck with what is available for larger customers.
I used to buy WE version by the pallet.
Just some more images of Pre-Preg Tailoring and other projects in progress!.
nice vacmobiles setup! Cliff is a good guy!
What is the other stuff? (first and last picture).
I presume a massage roller, and a massage bench?
Very funny!, just thought I would throw in some pics. of Stone Cutting and finishing machines that I build to fill in the “Gaps”! in boat production, the “Massage” machine is actually used to create a textured non-skid finish on flat sandstone surfaces to prevent slip and falls especially on pedestrian walkways, the “Massage Table” is a 1mtr. 18kw. Diamond Blade Saw for slicing sandstone blocks into 50-80mm thick “Tiles”, they pitch the edges off to look like full size stone blocks ie: .300 x .300 x 1.5mtr.
Also made a 8mm.D/Wire Bandsaw so that they can cut rebates to create corner stones so that they look full size also, Herman would like the Diamond Wire?.
The pics. below show one of my big build projects, I am finding composites a bit different to what I used to build in Aluminium, you never stop learning in this field!, this site is a testiment and inspiration to those who want to give it a go!.
And a smaller Project
35x75mm Carbon Foil Spar Section with adaptor plate to suit Skis and Kayaks with a Pod Float, for stability and Kids
i know this thread is a couple months old, but I’m curious - how do you lay up or arrange the expancell and the carbon? do you just roll the carbon around the expancell package so that it’s smaller than the ID of the mold, and as it expands the CF “burrito” just unfurls a little bit until it’s flush with the mold surface? how many layers are you doing? Thanks.
Hello wintermetal, I did touch on this in my reply on page 3, the layup depends on the strength req. of your final product, the cosmetic layer in my case 2x2 Twill being pre-preg is placed into the Alum. mould and “massaged” against your profile, you then stack the remainder of your laminate up to the last internal layer which in my case is 400gsm DB carbon, 1 side is flush with the 1/2 dia. and the other is aprox. 10-15mm proud of the other 1/2 to allow for the essential overlap see pic. below, you then fold the overlap over the strechalon bag containing the Expancel just before you close up, it will be pushed against the opposite half of your laminate when the heat is applied to the Expancel, thus joining the 2, I hope this helps?.
Regards
John Hayes
www.bladerunneroutriggers.com
That’s a good explanation and picture. Thanks.
where might one purchase Expancel? I emailed Akzo Nobel as there is no purchase information on their site, and I tried googling it but had no luck finding a distributor for it.
Additionally, do you know if there are any easier to get ahold of products that would accomplish the same thing?
Herman posted this link on page 3 -
again Herman might know of a similar product?, I have acccess to this product in Australia, but I am not sure about the US, this is a link to my supplier in Australia - http://www.ismaus.com/
otherwise Sweden -
Head Office: Expancel, PO Box 13000, SE-850 13 Sundsvall, SWEDEN, Phone: +46 60 13 40 00, Fax: +46 60 56 95 18
US Office: Expancel Inc, 2240 Northmont Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096, USA, Phone: +1 770 813 9126, Fax: +1 770 813 8639
E-mail: info@expancel.com Internet: www.Expancel.com
I hope this helps?.
Yeah I looked at the link… still haven’t heard back from Akzo. I’ll email the Aussie guy but I’m not expecting a decent price.
Have you tried the US Office in my previous reply?, I pay aprox. $60/kg. in Aust. so that plus shipping would not be attractive!.
i emailed them and haven’t heard back yet. I’ll call but I’m currently on the other side of the world so it’s just a matter of catching them when they’re open. Or waiting a month til I get back to the states.
Thanks for the help.
Called the US number for Akzo. $1200 USD for a 50 kg drum. I don’t need more than a few pounds… I doubt I could even take a couple pounds then sell the rest and recoup enough money to make it worth while. Dang.
I was thinking about using deflated thick-walled balloons, and putting the mold into a vacuum chamber. I’d probably have to line a 55 gal drum with concrete to make a cost-effective chamber large enough to hold the molds.
I noticed that unit too. How do you like it compared to what you used previously ?
Hello Worldwealth, I have used many configurations of vac. pumps, small vol.240V to 3ph.10hp. I find the Vacmobile pumps to be very versatile for big and small applications, no extra bits to install to make them work better, they just do what ever you want with infinite adjustment!.
Please see recent Expancel Info FYI. I can no longer obtain 820 DU 40 - which I was very happy with, I am currently trying a couple of other samples with a close temp range to determine whether I get the same outcome with my Pre-Preg resin system, I will keep you posted on the outcome.
John Hayes
www.bladerunneroutriggers.com
I looked into getting the expancell but at around $3500 for 50kg imported to Australia through the Australian agents it’s pretty expensive to get started with a new material and process that someone is unfamiliar with. If only they supplied it in smaller quantities??
I have gone on with using inflated bladders instead and these work ok.
Hello Bladerunner,
Facinating project! I assume you had to lay the UDs down in a series of strips in order to get to conform to the curved shape?
Yes thats right, straight sections are easy, I put these in in one piece depending on the ID. of my tube etc. but when laying the unis in the curves in my case 10mm. is the max. width that will tolerate my shapes and lay flat in my stack, I overlap those as well in each layer - I have made over 500 sets this way and always very happy with the outcome!, foils are a bit easier with the larger area but still use the same stacking schedule - works well!.