Hello everybody
This is my first post and I am here to share my point of view about resin infusion process and what is possible to do with this technology.
I have already introduced myself in the right section but I prefer to explain who I am.
I am a designer who love surf, skate and motorbike (Ducati ) and I always tried to developed and produced my “toys”
I have started to work with composite 20 years ago and I can considered myself an expert.
No hand lay up - never hand lay up - just and only resin infusin process.
I wanted that my parts looks made by autoclave process and here it was.
I have developed technology to:
cut dry fibres
tackifier method epoxy compatible
safe vacuum bag
curing curve
vacuum curve
special pressure plate to push fabrics in the mould
And…:
High tech graphite/carbon mould
pre-treatment to close pinholes before paint process.
develop technique and equipment fit for have the best results - you have to considerate that 20 years ago was very difficult to find any kind of informations…
Now I can produce almost any kind of items this autoclave quality but with out out autoclave. Just with infusion process!
But… It it still worth use infusion process?
I have reduce at least a lot of steps, I can have finished carbon parts in my hands from lay up in a mould to the end of the curing in two hours!
But is not enough for me!
First problem:
Infusion process uses to much consumable (mesh, breather, channels etc.) - to much time to laid them into the mould
Second problem:
Suppliers.
Yes suppliers and producers never push really the resin infusin technology for aesthetics use.
Nobody has developed pre-tackifier fabrics. This could push the market of resin infusion.
Pre-tackifier fabrics with back plastic layers will be very easy to cut in complicate shapes and after laid into the mould.
Nobody for lot of years has developed breather/peel ply/ infusion mesh in just one solution.
Just four/five years you can find it on market.
Nobody has develop technology to build profession moulds
Brilliant work straight from mould Finnish is 2nd to none
I was in Italy at christmas ( amalfi coast) , I should have dropped in and said hi and checked out your work
Your parts look nice, great job. I have been in composites almost as long as you, 17 years. I think there’s place for both infusion and OOA. IMO, OOA is better for smaller parts, and infusion is better for larger parts, and tooling. Small parts require so much extra time to laminate and infuse, so unless your volume is low, or you can fetch a huge margin its usually not worth it. The results from infusion are great, but OOA has made huge improvements over the years. I think over the next 5 years, OOA will make big leaps. Every process has its place, as the manufacturer, you should consider and design each piece around the process. Having your tooling be flexible for multiple processes is best as it gives you the ability to change process later.
And… You have keep the point.
Moreover it is time to me to change and fortunaly my mould are ready for this because are all bubbles free and they can be used over 120 c degrees.
About Ooa process just now, after years of developed, the resin used for prepregs are ready to give best results for primary and secondary structures but not for aesthetics parts.
The key for succes is extract air between plies before curing cycles.
I have ruin it…
No bragging, Roger, just share some example can you give with a right set up of resin infusion process.
If you have read all I have spent over 20 years to arrive at this point and it is quite difficult to me explane or show step by step the right way… I hope you can understand, but I can give you some help if you have some problem with resin infusion.
Anymore I am almost ready to pass to Ooa process so, I could explain how I can make these complex parts with infusion.
We use a fabric like that and we are developing it. It can be cut like a prepreg and will stick to the mould or another fabric. The adhesive will react with the resin.
We always try to make the infusion process better, thats why we have developed the MTI hose, MTI valve, Squeezee/Squeezer and Blade Runner, our new resin distribution line that does not leave any print and will minimize airbubbles.
But great results, I have not seen often that good parts. If you understand the process infusion ist the best solution.
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You can find now some right products not years ago… But this is the past
I have tried Mti hose, and after right setup I use it often in my process. I am Italian and I buy it in Germany via R&G composites. quite expensive but is a very good solution in many cases.
Of course, I have different strategy (and this is one of point of my success) to apply to different products
Small part: Mti hose, single bag one vacuum pump, intensifier plate for difficult corner
Degas resin, pre heat mould and resin
medium parts: Mti hose, single bag, two vacuum pump (one for extract air very quickly, one for infusion process), intensifier plate for difficult corner.
Degas resin, pre heat mould and resin
big part: conventional hose, double bag, two pump (see above), resin infusion pot under partial vacuum, intensifier plate for difficult corner.
Degas resin, pre heat mould and resin
After infusion, I put mould in oven for fast curing an after demould parts, for post curing
About fabric I have tried to find pre tackifier for a lot of years
I use ONLY 200 gr m2 3k PLAIN for external layer and over 285 gr m2 twill for internal reinforcement.
If you can show me how I can find it you make my happy.
I am starting now with Ooa tecnology but is still far to be perfect for me.
Thanks for all
About blade runner I have seen it at JEC. But I do not know where I can buy it.
I would like to try it to do some test, looks fine.
I am using omega channels to infusion starting from center of the mould.
Angeloni has pre tackifier fabric, I see a 245gr/m2 if I remember right. But expensive and not very ok…for the work I see, so now we return tu dry fabric. I have never try OOA prepreg, but I try before (for my hobby at home) hand layup, vacuum and then resin infusion and RTML, at work I use prepreg and autoclave…for many works, after try prepreg, it’s difficult come back to resin infusion…
I know Angeloli very well… but they do not have right pre tackifier for me.
If you have read all I have already tried Ooa, I would like to start immediately but at the moment I have still problems to find right reinforcement for me. I need 200 3k plain for Esternal side and it is impossible to find…
I’ve been doing infusions for a long time as well, mainly wind blades, boat parts, and some industrial type parts. Not trying to offend you but your first posts on this thread were just hinting that you have some secret to success but you didn’t really share anything, hence my comment.
The info quoted above (in blue) is more like what I was asking about. Thanks for that. Any other tidbits you’d like to share?
) and I always tried to developed and produced my “toys”
straight from mould Finnish is 2nd to none 