newbie going for the first mold

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

I would like to make a Carbon Fiber wing blade like the one in the ppicture (only the top blade).

I hawould like to know what would be the best way to make a mold for this part. I have the original part in my car. Can I use that part as the plug and just lay the carbon Fiber over it? … and then release the plug?Or, I have to make a female mold? If the latter, how do I build it, and what the best material (cost effective) for the mold?

If I need a female mold, it will have to be a 2 part mold. How, and where, to I make the split dam?

Thanks a lot for the help…and sorry for so many questions.

Thanks

#2

I am going to upload some pics for you I can help you out a little

#3

Lokk forward for them. THANKS!!

#4

Id be interested in seeing them to thanks, ive been thing of doig a imilar thing for my wing.

#5

ok, I am making molds for the mitsubishi evo VIII stock wing and I am just finishing up the fin portion of it.

I was lucky that the fin was already carbon so I could see where they put the pieces together. You just half the wing fin and that is where you put the flanges

This was Jason, one of my employees flanging the wing and adding clay to get the line perfect.

Here is the fin gel coated. Then we layed the glass and a couple days later we popped the plug forom the mold, and cut the edges.

Then we put the wing back in the mold we made, then I used the flange from the first mold to make the second mold

This is both of the finished molds

If this is your first mold, I would try something easier to learn on before you go and tackling a 2pc mold

#6

sorry that was not that detailed but that is all the pics I took and you can ask questions from here. but I would suggest tring something easy to do as your first mold

#7

GREAT PICS, THANKS. As I understand it. You lay one side of the mold, and then without removing the plug you turn it around and lay the other side. If so, what do you use between the flanges to avoid they sticking together?

Could you please describe the process for me, to see if I have it clear. In particualr, what has to do with the flanging. I have no problem with the laying of the FB, but I am not sure are to make the to parts fit together.

Thanks

#8

one more question, what material did you uise for the flanges (silver on the pic).

thanks

#9

I take it you are familiar with basic laminating and infusion of carbon fibre? If not then it would perhaps be a very good idea if you tried some simpler projects first.

Chris

#10

i agree,its a very big project for your first attempt! try and make a mold of something much much smaller,the cost of materials to make the fin mold will be very high.i suggest something like a table coaster as a practise,unfortunately its nowhere near as easy as some of these guys make it look…

#11

My idea was to practice with fiberglass first. I am ussuming it is very similar to work with CF. I was planning to make the mold and then make a couples of FG wing blades before attempting the CF, in order to minimize the cost of learning.
What do you think?

#12

good plan :wink: the main difference is with carbon you have to work with one large piece of cloth,with fibreglass you work with loads of shreds of cloth,similar principles but different… but please start with a much smaller part!

#13

Start with fibreglass woven mat if you must, i started with a small item for starters, i made a replacement ashtry lid for my car, very rewarding when your first part comes out of the mould. you’ll need some practise using CF on a smaller peice though i would recomend.

#14

Yes, work on small scale molds and molding or else you will get burned out at the poor results and wasted $ materials too! Try checking EBay for materials too…

Well, Bristol Sharpie 500 is starting so off to the sofa!:rolleyes:

#15

So I take it when you join the two pieces together you then trim them, shape the edges, and then clear coat the piece?

#16

yeah I will make the pieces seperatly then I will pop them, cut them, shape them, then put the 2 pieces together. A trick that I learned while taking the OEM side of the spoiler together, I am using velcrow to hold the middles together while the seam cures

mmasse-- I have just been using high heat parting wax to keep the sections from sticking together, also make sure you wax the hell out of your plug! I use the flanges because I vacuum infuse everything. The flanges are used for making my bags.

Here is a pic of a mold that has been infused.

Here is a little video of us infusing a pair of fuel pump covers. This will help better see the flanges in use.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5323772851550698047&q=infusion

#17

thanks dual Twill, great material. Question: what type of pump are you using for the VIP?

#18

this is my infusion setup. I run 2 robinair 5600s and I always have one in reserve just in cause. Then I run 4 pressure pots and then I can branch that in 2 so I can infuse 8 molds at one time if I wanted

#19

Will this vaccum pump work for VIP?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3952

I have a 6HP compressor and though this could be an inexpensive way to have a vacuum pump.

Thanks

#20

if you want something that will last and has a good warranty and has proven itself time and time again I would go with the robinair. you are going to apy around $220 on ebay for them but I assure you, having a good pump is the key.