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Author Topic: How many layers? CF LG  (Read 2956 times)

Offline chris lauzon

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How many layers? CF LG
« on: March 30, 2017, 09:13:53 PM »
Hi all,

This is my first post to the forum. :)

I have watched a video by Sparky12366 on making CF LG's. I would like to make one for a plane of mine. A Great Planes Super Skybolt to be exact, kit version. I am not really fond of aluminum gears. I ordered myself some 15k tow and some 5.6 oz woven cloth. I have some laminating resin from a fiber glassing project. Does anyone have a chart of the number of layers that are needed for a given weight?

Thanks

Offline jfv

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2017, 09:42:06 AM »
Here's a chart from Fly RC.  It is a carbon, fiberglass lamination.  At least its a start.
Jim Vigani

Offline Target

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2017, 02:27:50 PM »
What are they using as "graphite ribbon"? I assume that is unidirectional carbon?
jfv- don't you normally just use all CF cloth or uni-carbon, not glass?

I also am interested in molding some CF gear.
I have lots of CF 3K cloth, but not much Uni-Carbon. Plain weave seems like it would wind up thicker and heavier for the same strength as using uni-carbon for the bulk of the layup.

Just curious.

Kind Regards,
Chris
Regards,
Chris
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Offline Phil Krankowski

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2017, 08:28:09 AM »
Carbon fiber tow is pretty east to get.  Small quantities on Ebay are pretty reasonable.  24k tow is about 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide, about $1 for 10 ft.  I am sure large bulk quantities cost less, but I would expect several set of landing gear from 100ft of tow.

Phil


Offline Target

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2017, 11:22:00 AM »
I haven't tried it yet, but I would think tow would be harder to work with than uni-carbon or any other type of fabric when making something like that. How would you keep the layers uniform in thickness width wise across the parts?
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Chris
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Offline Will Hinton

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2017, 01:04:15 PM »
I have built using tow only, and also with tow and a woven top layer - both work equally well.  Your mold is the key to the number of layers.  However deep you make your mold is what you fill with your CF.
Now - caution!!!  What epoxy do you intend to use?  It absolutely MUST be one that will work by post curing it at a proper heat.  I use Resin Services resin from up in Michigan and post cure it for one hour at 150 degrees.
I failed to use that once and when I was test flying the new airplane at Muncie, Allen Goff asked me why my airplane had a distict list to the starboard!  The heat from the tarmac softened the right leg until the wingtip was touching the surface.  I won't tell you what that epoxy was except to say it came from CA.  (They told me post curing would work with it; didn't.)
Google Resin Services, then call them if you have any questions.  They treated me like I was Boeing or someone even though they knew what I was doing.  I've talked to them several times on different occasions with the same results.
John 5:24   www.fcmodelers.com

Offline Target

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2017, 08:24:13 PM »
I only use mgs.
;-)
Regards,
Chris
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Offline chris lauzon

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2017, 08:45:40 PM »
@jfv thanks for the chart. I seen that article from flyrc. But you had to pay to get the layer dats. I am using Ez- Lam laminating resin from ACP composites. I am planning on putting down a layer or two of my  6 oz woven cloth and then whatever number of layers of town on top of that and then capping with a layer or two of woven fabric again. I made my mold from some mdf. I layered up enough pieces to make a block as tall as the original aluminum LG. I cut it to the correct angle and then framed out the shape of the original gear. I plan on clamping my original gear on top of the layed up CF to help squish all the layers together.

Thanks for the responses.

Online Lauri Malila

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Re: How many layers? CF LG
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2017, 03:12:06 AM »
The suplier of your cf cloth should be able to give you the thickness of laminate for each cloth & given resin %. After that it's very simple mathematics.
With carbon tow, if you know the amount of fibres per tow (usually 5K, 10K etc), it's also very simple maths to calculate the amount of tows necessary for given cross area.
Or, to calculate through what sixe of hole you have to pull the wetted tow so that it's left with correct resin %. L


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