Splitting a Braid etc

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

Hi all. I think I’ve seen part of some of these on older threads, but I find they don’t get as much reading as the new ones, so here goes, in no particular order:

*Can a braided tube be cut and used as a flat sheet?

*If yes, for the above, is there a good technique for keeping it from unraveling? I was thinking of masking tape lengthwise, which would then be cut through; would the tape adhesive be a problem for the fabric?

*Anyone have experience with home made syntactic foam, i.e. glass microshperes like from Fibreglast?

*The description of the Aventador’s chassis production process sounds a bit similar to the composite space frame idea ATR demoed five years ago; does anyone know if there’s a tie-in?

Thanks!

#2

Braided tube could be cut and used as a flat sheet although Im not sure why you would want to do that. Masking tape is good generally but a low tack masking tape is by far the best imo. I would put some inside and outside of the tube along the cut line and use sharp scissors!

#3

A good alternative to masking tape is quilters tape, it’s a low tack tape and is much narrower than masking tape at only 6mm. I use it all the time for marking out my cloth around templates. I only ever use it on one side.

#4

Biaxial (braided) sleeving is really just a 2x2 weave. You can accomplish the same thing by cutting 2x2 twill fabric at a 45. It will ‘stretch’ and ‘expand’ just like the sleeving would.

#5

I have done well with carefully squirting acetone on the fiber to pull the tape back off. Just go slowly. But again, why cut open a braid?

I have make foam with VER and Q-cels. Had issues with the balloons floating to the top, so the density was light on top, heavy on bottom. I think if I had a thicker consistency, it would have been fine. Just do some tests, to see what works for you.

no idea about the frame question. I don’t touch auto stuff often…companies are so secret

#6

I use laser beams attached to highly trained pirahanna. Works quite well.

#7

How do you dry the fabric though? Soaking in a pool of water isn’t good for resins to cure well.

#8

*The idea behind cutting the braid is getting a piece of +/-45 that’s wider than what’s usually on offer. Soller offers a 24" diameter which, split down the middle, would be about 74" wide.

*Piranha would be an interesting solution so far as the cutting goes, but you haven’t addressed keeping it from fraying…

*Rogue, is that handle Lotus related or rugby related?

#9

There is a supplier on alibaba that does custom weaves for tubing. Matter of fact most of the stuff coming from over seas is the same tow just weaves at different textile plants. Hate to say it but I bet the would send you a sample piece free.

#10

They do make biaxial tape too but it’s only a few inches wide and the weave along the edge is a bit funky.
Don’t see why you’d have any problems splitting the sleeving using tape. The only thing you may need to be careful with is the edge with the tape wont be able to move, but the center can. You may be able to get by without taping too since the fibers are running at 45 to the cut they wont really fray.

The Se7ens started out for Mini and Lotus but now it’s pretty much Mini and custom stuff.

#11

If you need +/-45, why not use a multiaxial, and cut that to size? These are 45 degree oriented already (if you buy the biax stuff) and these do not fray. No need for training piranhas…