resin infusion 3rd try

[Tom_Irwin]

I wish I had a bigger garage, it’s kind of a big project. I’ve only done some small stuff to try and figure it out. task was to make a new tail with some aerodynamic improvments. the old one was mocked up and tested with a full compliment of data acquisition.

I used the original mold and built a heavy tail for the tool. then made the changes with foam, bondo, plywood, etc. What a mess!

then primed it and polished it.

then I arived with this mold.

layed up 2 plies biaxal C/F, core, and 1 ply plain weave

I made a test panel on glass to check resin flow thru the perf core. then bagged it up and pumped PTM&W resin today. I sure hope it turns out. it gets painted so it should look ok.

I want to thank Scott Stettler @ PTM&W for letting me come down and talk this one over. he’s got a cool laboratory

my 2cents: If you’re not sticky, you’re not having fun

[Worldwealth]

I wish I had a bigger garage, it’s kind of a big project. I’ve only done some small stuff to try and figure it out. task was to make a new tail with some aerodynamic improvments. the old one was mocked up and tested with a full compliment of data acquisition.

I used the original mold and built a heavy tail for the tool. then made the changes with foam, bondo, plywood, etc. What a mess!

then primed it and polished it.

then I arived with this mold.

layed up 2 plies biaxal C/F, core, and 1 ply plain weave

I made a test panel on glass to check resin flow thru the perf core. then bagged it up and pumped PTM&W resin today. I sure hope it turns out. it gets painted so it should look ok.

I want to thank Scott Stettler @ PTM&W for letting me come down and talk this one over. he’s got a cool laboratory

my 2cents: If you’re not sticky, you’re not having fun

Nice work Tom ! Looking forward to your result. That is a large part and a brave first go ! I was in Van Nuys yesterday and wished I had your number to see if you were free.

Cheers, Vinny

[herman]

Looks good so far. Do a good vacuum integrity test.

On your test panels, was laminate quality OK? You are using quite fast infusion mesh, that is why I ask. On the other hand, multiaxial is easier to do right than woven.

[DDCompound]

That’s a quite nice part. Not really complex, but tricky. You have partially sabdwich material. What core material do you use? Is it an infusion specification?
At your layup it is really important that you have a perfect vacuum! If you don’work with the MTI hose make your brake zone bigger, if not I am sure you will have problems at the core material corners. You will suck out too much resin and that may cause stiffness problems.

[Tom_Irwin]

Looks good so far. Do a good vacuum integrity test.

On your test panels, was laminate quality OK? You are using quite fast infusion mesh, that is why I ask. On the other hand, multiaxial is easier to do right than woven.

herman-
I respect your knowledge and advice highly, you do a great thing for this board

the test panels came out good. i made them on glass to check the flow on the backside. it took 2 1/2 hours to fuse. it had about 1/3 gallon in the catch pot. also degassed the resin

it held at 26 for 5

[Tom_Irwin]

That’s a quite nice part. Not really complex, but tricky. You have partially sabdwich material. What core material do you use? Is it an infusion specification?
At your layup it is really important that you have a perfect vacuum! If you don’work with the MTI hose make your brake zone bigger, if not I am sure you will have problems at the core material corners. You will suck out too much resin and that may cause stiffness problems.

1/8 divinycell, hand pref @ 1 1/4 sq. grid.
no spec, just winged it. I went to see the tech rep at the resin co. and spent half a day with him. he was willing to come to me and do it but time was not on our side.

when I bagged it I kept it under vacuum for 48 hrs. wait for a cooler day. ran a/c in the garage @ 70f.

what is mti hose?

[Tom_Irwin]

I have boxes to fabricate behind the wheels still to make.
I won’t pull it untill they are bonded in.

flanges off, good compaction in corners

[Tom_Irwin]

also, the part gets painted. I used primer for the face coat.
to prep just scuff and paint

[supercha]

Nice work Tom.
I am in North Hollywood. if you need any help, let me know…

[Matvd]

did you bag the whole part tom or did you just bag around the parimeter? I have always been nurvous of infusing parts as large as this, I always feel happier laminating it by hand then bagging it after for the fear of not having proper wet out with an infusion this size!