What happens if the resin reaches the vacuum port?
Nothing. Just some resin bubbling in the vacuum line, possibly reaching your vacuum pump. You do use a resin trap?
Sometimes we let the resin go up the resin port, to “flush” the part. On larger projects some vacuum ports inevitably get “wet” and then we simply close them off. There are usually plenty of vacuum ports to take over.
Hi Herman,
I do have a resin trap hooked up. Ive been rethinking this messy set up. I’m going to cancel the tongue thing and only put mesh on maybe half of the part.I’m starting to think this will infuse without the mesh but Ill leave some in.
I sent you a couple of emails but no response. Maybe I got the address wrong.
thank you,
Terry
I want to say thanks again to Riff , Herman, Hojo and Canyon for hanging in there with me while this thing keeps kicking my @#$.
I’m trying not to let it get frustrating. Im pretty determined to make it work.
Terry
No problem. It took me 6 or 7 failed infusions just to kinda figure out how it worked and still every now and then I screw up one of my test samples. Layup is all about experience with your materials. There are so many variables with composites even the pro’s with millions of dollars of funding have to test and restest before they can get things right.
hey your infusions look alot like mine! On the flat parts there great then voids on the sharp corners. I will watch this thread to see how you go. Its is so frustrating because all the videos I watch make it look so easy.
back on page 3, caynon posted some pics on how to kinnda do it(make sure the flow media is touching the inlet.) Peelply only is needed for the part surface, not the entire tool. The peelply “delay line” shown in his pictures would be fine for the size or your mold. Once the resin hits the end of the part, clamp the resin inlet. Once you get a few infusions done, you can maybe clamp before the end of the part…you will see that the resin will keep flowing through (due to higher pressure and more resin on the inlet side.) On my 12"x12" panels, I can clamp the inlet closed the second it hits the end of the part, and my 4" peelply delay line will still get fully saturated. I keep my flow media about 0.5" to 1" away from the end of part (all depending on my resin, part, and gel time.)
Sorry Riff, Your last post came too late for me to take advantage of it.
This time I simplified the setup, things went better.
I was expecting the infusion to go real fast like last time, but it didnt. I kinda want to know why.
I put peel ply around the spiral tape this time.
I turned the flow media sideways so the so the longer part of the diamond shapes in the flow media were aiming at a 90 degree angle. “If this makes sense”
And I left out the bottom layer of peel ply like Riff said to do this time.
Anyway it took close to 60 minutes to infuse. I can see It would have infused in 30 minutes if I would have cut the flow media a half inch short like Riff said to do.
Anyway, Other than the flow media being too short could you guys take a look at the setup and tell me what you think is missing, wrong, with the setup.
I think next time if I put the flow media on and leave only about a half inch,it will infuse in more like 30 minutes. This will give me time to degass the epoxy.
I put a green line where I would end your flow media. This is also where I would try to stop the infusion like RIFF said above. I clamp my parts when the resin reaches the end of flow media and the resin still makes it threw the peel ply resin brake and never goes into my vac tube. I will end up with a perfect surface finish. I never understood why people let resin go out the hose and use a catch pot, seems like a big waste of money to me and more areas for leaks. I also circled in red your connector. Where do you get these? I seen them from Airtech but I dont have an account with them to order. Plus I don’t think they want to deal with a small order for infusion connectors.
What kind of speeds is this rocket going to see? I know a couple guys into rockets and the G’s they tell me they can pull is AMAZING!
Happy infusion!
there are so many factors that will effect your infusion speed. Weather alone will do this. Though my guess would be that your resin feed line was almost closed off because it was touching the spiral wrap inside your connector greatly impeading the flow. But this is just a guess. That piece should infuse quick, like 1 minute or so
I had the line cut at an angle so I don’t think the line was the culprit this time.
I was thinking the vacuum side spiral tubing did it. I was thinking I should have wrapped peel ply around it.
Do I even need to have spiral tubing at the vacuum? Or can I just mount a normal round port?
Thanks , Terry
Am I right in saying you leave the flow media short to slow down the infusion?
This is going to be a pretty big project. I don’t have any speed predictions yet. It will definitely be over the top though.
Once I get something going Ill post some pics here.
Thanks , Terry
Thats correct. These guys just spent the last couple days beating this point into my head. 
sorry I am new to all this but why is slow better?
I got the connectors at “Michigan Fiberglass”
infusion speed:
I think I should have put breather under the vacuum port spiral tubing?
I’m still getting voids in my corners. I sprayed adhesive on them and jammed the material in as much as I could but there is still areas in the corners that wont fill.
I have a epoxy clear brushable gel coat that I could brush on the corners to help fill them prior to the layup. Would this be a good idea?
Terry
I dont think your vac source side had anything to do with your infusion speed. Invest in a lower viscosity infusion epoxy. your spiral wrap should be stretched a little to open it up. make sure your resin inlet tube is not too long, or if it is it needs to have a larger ID to allow for good flow.
East coast fibreglass have some pritty good video guides, here is the one for infusion. it will take up about half an hour of your time(its split into 3 videos, each continues on from the previous one) but it is quite detailed.
http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/t-vid_ResinInfusionDemonstration.aspx
Each of these last two infusion didn’t fill in the corners.Im not sure how to correct this.