Equipment source for hobby size composite manufacturing?

[tomwalz]

Want to play with composites on a hobby scale.

I would appreciate any suggestions for equipment that anyone cared to make.

Thanks,
Tom

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com

Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.

 

[MintJulep]

Good source for materials:

http://sweetcomposites.com/

 

[patprimmer]

That is an extremely general question.

Do you want to make moulds.

Do you want to use prepregs.

Do you want to do hand layups of fibre reinforcement with two pot resin mixes over existing objects.

If the latter, a pair of scissors, a ribbed roller, a brush or two, some good scales, some rubber gloves, a ventilated area, some old cloths and plenty of polypropylene containers or cups and some lollipop sticks as stirrers and spatulas or a putty knife

Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376 for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm

for site rules

 

[tomwalz]

I bought a Nyglass trowel for $1.50 Saturday out of a bargain bin.

I had no idea the technology was that pervasive. I was thinking it was still aircraft and similar.

I found Fiber Glast which looks like a pretty good start.

Tom

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com

Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.

 

[SnTMan]

tomwalz, you might check out

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

Fascinating way to make stuff IMO

Regards,

Mike

 

[1gibson]

Check your local aerospace dumpsters (find a friend there.) Expired pre-pregs get tossed out, colleges might get a courtesy call when that happens so they could have some stashed in the freezer.

 

[berkshire]

Tom,
Check out Fiberlay I think they have a store near you.
They will sell anything from a 2oz pot of resin to a full roll of glass cloth, your choice.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[btrueblood]

Well...I assume you've checked around the local hobby shops, Tom? You might find a local RC aircraft field, and talk to some of the boys there, one or two might be DIY builders.