Designing new Router called Maximus

[peteeng]

Hi Zorbit - If you look for videos and information on composite infusion you will find heaps of info. Basically you prepare the mould and stack it with dry material. Seal it with a countermould or a vacuum bag then use the vacuum to draw in resin. Like most things its easier said then done. I've played with metal swarf and due to its rough and "open" structure it does not pack well. You would need to add something to it to decrease the resin usage. Something like talc is good. Most EG materials get around 20-30GPa modulus but I have been trying to get to 70GPa or better ie same as aluminium as a target. High Modulus carbon fibre short fibres (400GPa plus) can get there easily but these have worked out to be very expensive. Many of the materials bought in bulk will get there but to buy bulk (like tonnes) is hard to do for a start up. Standard fibreglass infused gets to 30GPa and std carbon fibre gets to 60GPa -85GPa depends on lay up. My aim is to make a material that is easy to dry pour into a mould and is machinable after cure. Things like Al oxide make very stiff blocks but your effectively making a grind stone so machining is difficult.

T&C's of the site prevent spruiking so I keep my stuff low key. You can use rule of mixtures to predict rough modulus values to make decisions before you try. Peter

[peteeng]

Hi Pippin and others - Here's the data sheet on VE 411-350 which would be the most common formulation out there, it states 7.8% shrinkage. ATL don't publish shrinkage but I called them and R118 has 0.5% by volume shrinkage. I'd expect other 100% solids epoxies to be similar. Cheers Peter S