Composite mold making questions |
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Composite mold making questions |
TonyAKAVW |
Jul 16 2007, 01:48 PM
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#1
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That's my ride. Group: Members Posts: 2,151 Joined: 17-January 03 From: Redondo Beach, CA Member No.: 166 Region Association: None |
I want to make a diffuser/engine pan for my car, and last night I started gluing foam sheets together to make a mold. My plan is to form the foam into the shape I want and then seal it with body filler, and then primer and polish. I have been reading up on making molds for composite work and most seem to talk about making a copmosite piece for the mold rather than what I am planning. If I make my mold as described will my composite part rip the mold apart when I seperate the two? (assuming I use a PVA mold release film).
Also, if I make the part with carbon fiber, how do I finish the edges of the piece when I'm done? I would like to vacuum bag this part because the part will be visible from the top and the bottom... Can I get away not bagging it and get a decent finish? (I'm not super concerned that it has a perfect surface really). -Tony Finished part will look something like this... With the long straight edge meeting up against the firewall and the two tunnels exiting right under the bumper. Attached image(s) |
TonyAKAVW |
Jul 16 2007, 04:20 PM
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#2
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That's my ride. Group: Members Posts: 2,151 Joined: 17-January 03 From: Redondo Beach, CA Member No.: 166 Region Association: None |
Felix: Not sure about what you mean in terms of what I'm making. The mold that I'm working on should end up looking like this:
Basically its a foam piece (with sealer and primer, etc. on the surface) and then I will layer the cloth on top of that. I will probably use some kind of mat between CF layers to reduce cost, but this large foam piece won't be part of the finished product. The whole foam piece will be glued to a 1/2 inch MDF board. Which in turn will be supoprted by 2x4s. I figure that should help during the vacuum bagging, to prevent mold warpage. -Tony Attached image(s) |
neo914-6 |
Jul 16 2007, 05:12 PM
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#3
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
Felix: Not sure about what you mean in terms of what I'm making. The mold that I'm working on should end up looking like this: Basically its a foam piece (with sealer and primer, etc. on the surface) and then I will layer the cloth on top of that. I will probably use some kind of mat between CF layers to reduce cost, but this large foam piece won't be part of the finished product. The whole foam piece will be glued to a 1/2 inch MDF board. Which in turn will be supoprted by 2x4s. I figure that should help during the vacuum bagging, to prevent mold warpage. -Tony The two part mold would be similar to a die essentially replacing bagging which helps drive out all the air pockets and forms two finished sides. You can accomplish the same with laying the layers on your one piece mold and then a piece of mylar and squeeging out the air although you wouldn't control the thickness. Structurally you can probably use one layer to take advantage of the CF strength. Looks like a fun project... |
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