Just saw this…
http://www.compositesworld.com/blog/post/mti-valve-unveiled-as-innovative-solution-in-resin-infusion
with all the MTI hose discussion, figured this would fit nicely.
They claim a higher fiber volume and less gradient across the infusion.
what do you think?
Ohhh… I’m surely interested in getting these in my hands. When can we start buying?
EDIT
The MTI valve is our new product. It will make the infusion process more reproducable. It is mounted in the resin feed line
with the direction shown on the MTI valve.
I recomment to seal the hose on the MTI valve with tacky tape, sometimes with hard tubes it might not be 100% tight.
The MTI valve has a spring inside that simulates a conter pressure for the resin. This pressure ist adjusted that you reach a VF of about 50%. Tha VF depends on the kind of fabric used in the layup.
The valve will not guaraty a VF of about 50%, but it will make the process reproducable. In combination with the MTI hose you will get the same in every part. If you make 5 car hoods for example, each of them will have the same VF.
The MTI valve will also prevent resin pooling at the inlet. It allows just as much resin to be infused that is needed to get the adjusted VF. The fabrics will even at the resin inlet not relax totally. They will stay compacted.
This means the infusion will be little slower but more equally.
To show this effect we made a small animation video.
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pk5jNG9SEc”]MTI Valve and how it works - YouTube[/ame]
After the resin has saturated all fabrics the MTI valve shuts it self. You have now a nice self regulating process. You can start the infusion and when its saturated it will stop without oversaturating the part.
After resin has reached the MTI hose I most times clamp the resin feed because in test we sometimes had carbamate or dirt in the resin pot wich did not allow the MTI valve to close completely and so it might happen that some resin can travel in the part after infusion is completed and the MTI valve has shut.
If you have questions or like to get a sample just contact me.
You can find your Dealer on our homepage www.dd-compound.com
I’m sure Juergen will be commenting shortly on his new product.
In the meantime, if I understand it correctly it seems as if you could set up your infusion (using MTI hose), open the resin valve and walk away.
The valve throttles the resin flow into the stack based on vacuum levels. Once the resin hits the MTI hose, the flow stops. Once that happens, the pressure in the bag increases and that shuts off intake the valve.
Infusion is now complete.
Pretty slick!
I’m curious how it would work with a conventional setup? I’d think the automatic flow throttling would be a good thing. But once you’re done you’d have to manually clamp off the intake line since there’s no “auto shutoff” without the MTI hose.
Does that sound about right?
In a standard setup ip will not close because resin can travel in the vacuum line and will be evacuated. That amount of resin will be able to pass the MTI valve.
The fibre to volume ratio will depend on the fabrics and their spring forces. But main reason will be reproducability and stop resin pooling at the inlet to get a homogenious laminate.
Now this is interesting. I’d be interested in trying them DD, would you send samples to Australia?
Of course, write me a mail.
Juergen/German advanced composites is just the importer in the states. It is a product od DD-Compound.
Interested in the product as well. So how does this compare to, say, placing the resin pot one meter below the intake port and using the weight of the resin in the line to act as a plunger once the MTI hose has shut off vacuum draw within the bag, or the vacuum line has been saturated and clamped? Is the concept the same, but the valve just makes it easier? Are the valves single use (disposable/consumable) items? Wouldn’t mind checking out a couple of samples myself, if possible 
It simulates a conter pressure, like placing the resin pot one meter below. But it makes it easier and more reproducable. It is a single use valve because after use it is saturated with resin that will be ome hard.
Just write me an mail with your adress and we will ship some samples.
Great stuff DDCompound!
I edited the first post, you can find the information there.
Received my samples of the MTI valve today. I’m really excited to try them out with my MTI hose. Will report back next week sometime with my findings/experiences.
We have been manufacturing products using the infusion method in Australia for many years now. A while ago I tested the MTI Hose and now use it exclusively. I was so impressed with this product that we decided to stock and distribute it here.
I did my first infusion with the MTI Valve today and was very impressed. It is simple physics at work but in a manner that is controlled by the operator. In the past we calculated the resin required for a project by rough shop calculations and trial and error sometimes shutting off the flow before the entire project was wet out and waiting for the resin distribution to even out. This is fine if you have long enough gel time with the resin. If not then fibre volume will not be even across the part.
Is it necessary? No, but why continue to rely on intuition, experience and sometimes luck to ensure a good result when products like these are available. The cost compared to the cost of the losing the end product is justifiable in my experience and if I can guarantee consistency in product quality for our customers it is worth every cent.
Anyone producing parts with the infusion method is obviously looking for a quality part, as we are. When products like these come along that capture and utilize the basic physics that drive this process I am happy to be on board. I have seen many gimmicky products and processes come and go over the years and have been refreshed to find that both the MTI Hose and Valve do exactly what they say they do.
Well done on both products DD. If anyone in Australia would like some info feel free to contact me.
Larry Gray
Penetrator Fins
So I understand this should be used in cunjunction with the MTI hose, (I think thats cool) but if you were to use spiral tubing, (about a year ago I landed 500 ft for about $50 on ebay and I’m almost finished with it) this regulator would shut the flow off once the pressure is achieved.
My question is would it re-open once the spiral tubing starts to suck some of the resin out of the part?
Yes, it will reopen (or never close) if you use regular spiral tube. It is made for a closed system you have if you work with the MTI hose.
Hi DDCompound. I’ve been in touch with your company but not heard back as yet. I am a furniture designer here in the UK (you can view some of my past work on my website: http://www.krislamba.com
I am in the process of prototyping a new chair design which is a particularly difficult resin infusion (due to the nature of a continuous loop and having to use a male pattern). I would like to use MTI hose with an MTI valve as I believe this will be the perfect project to test the system on. Would some samples be possible? The valves don’t seem to be in stock anywhere in Europe…
I would have PM’d you but am awaiting some sort of forum activation. You can contact me via my website or directly here. I will be documenting and publishing the whole procedure.
Kris