RE: [ATM] Carbon Fiber for Spider Vanes

["Peter" <peter@kitgear.com>]

Shane,

Would you kindly provide me with an on list critique of the making of my
composite altitude bearings?

Brief Description:
=================
- Core material is polystyrene foam from Home Depot. 1" thick. Very firm
material.
- Bearing surface has 2 layers of two direction woven fiberglass
- Sides have 3 layers glass per side to provide the bearing stiffness
- decorative inner forms are 1 layer glass
- cloth held in place with Super 77 adhesive to maintain position while the
cloth wets out.
  Trick I learned from model airplane makers.
- laminate pressed between two waxed boards with 200lbs for curing time
- Transition temp of my epoxy Tg is 196 degrees F

Photos are: www.kitgear.com/atm/temp

The bearings turned out very nicely but I don't yet have pictures of the
completed parts. More to come...

Some questions I have are:
=========================
- What could I have done better but please understand that I do not have
vacuum bagging equipment?

- If I were to get vacuum bagging tools and materials then would that
technique work for complex parts like this?

- Should I worry about my epoxy Tg even if I paint my parts a light color?


Thanks in advance for any input you may share with us.


Peter

_______________________________________________
ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/