Any time we get ready to do an infusion project we start with test panels (assuming it is something new and not a small part infusion). In this video we are getting ready to infuse the skins on a 12 foot paddleboard (3.6 meters) so we are going to run some test panels to determine flow rate through the laminate stack before we jump over to the molds and infuse the full size part.
This first test panel we are going to flow from one side of the panel to the other, a distance of 40" (1m), which matches the distance we'll need to flow in the paddleboard if we go from one side to the other. Why do we want to go from one side to the other and not feed from the middle? While feeding from the middle would halve the distance from our feed to our vacuum lines, the problem we run into with feeding from the middle is that we tend to get print where the feed line is that shows up on the outside of the board and we have to run more vacuum manifold. So if we can flow from one side to the other we won't have print issues and the setup will be a little less complicated and cost less.
Materials used in this video:
6oz plain weave carbon fiber
2mm soric core mat
Bleederlease B Peel Ply
Enkafusion Feed
RIC (Resin Infusion Cup)
MTI vacuum hose
WR7400 Vacuum Bag
Hydrex 100 Vinyl Ester Infusion Resin
R&B Release Agent
FS 2.3 quart Resin Trap
Airtech Vacuum Gauge
Mixing Buckets
Robinair Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump