Composite Mold Design Project 1 – prepreg press mold

Prepregs Are textiles preimpregnated with resin (epoxy or phenol) and require a high temperature for curing, above 85C, often 240C. These molds are made of metal and are double sided Pressing the textile inside the mold into shape requires tappered surfaces and some bending radii for the textile. The magnitude of the radius must be larger than the textile thickness. Choosing a small bending radius increases bending stiffness of the lamina, making it large gives simpler lamination processes

Mass produced hollow beams Composite laminas are often thin and large. To increase stiffness at low mass expense hollow beam can be glued to the surface of the lamina. These beams are narrow and high but must have a surface on which they may be laminated to other surfaces. Inverse V – shaped hollow beam with flange is a prefect representative of such a beam profile

Inverse V shape beam Design considerations: 1.Heat application on the side surfaces of the mold, aluminum or steel? 2.How to pre cut prepregs 3.Mold guide pins 4.Opening and closing mechanism for the press mold 5.How to remove ready lamina from the mold? 6.Mold maintenance?