Carbon Fibre Sheets

Jim

That was just the sort of process I'd planned, although thanks for the tip on laying up diagonally.

What is peel ply?  I had thought of using plastic sheet (damp proof course or similar) over the mould to prevent it bonding to the mould. 

Garry

Edited by Garry

A mould really wouldn't be a hassle for this structure. As normal pacel tape is your friend (the brown parcel tape is mylar, and epozy just doesn't stick to it). Use some 3 by 1 or something like it strip wood, and make a construction like this. The underneath is the inside dimensions of your turret. The eupper piece is a bit larger all round, and will form the outside surface.
Glue a plate of ply to each side of the inner mould. Leave the outer one loose.



Start with a layer of peel ply, then laminate up your turret. I'd use two layers of cloth 45/45 (it with the fibres running diagonlly) then about 6 layers of unidirectional carbon, then another two layers of cloth. Then another layer of peel ply maybe two or three as you're new to this and will probably use too much resin. Now clamp your outer mould on top and leave to cure. When cured pll apart the mould and remove the peel ply.

Now to strengthen it some more it would be good to give it some ends. Make two flat plates of cloth, 4 layers, two diagonally, two vertically big emough to cover the ends. Compress between two bits of flat wood, with layers of peel ply between the parcel tape on the wood and the laminate.

When finished glue these onto the ends, use generous fillets on the inside and then run a couple of strips of 45/45 carbon down the joins. Finally cut a slot in the ends to clear your centreboard.

Bog it in, fillet the join and a layer of uni-d with some lightweight glass/carbon cloth on top should do the trick...

Where abouts are you based? Looking around the back of your dinghy park and asking around the members (particularly 800 sailors) could be a plan.

Do or Do not... There is no try

Slightly different concept really as our swivels are supposed to be low profile and unobtrusive (as well as having the rope comming from a totaly different angle).. this needs to be tall enough to clear the centreboard when up and is balicaly just a bracket.

Cant help thinking you'd be better of doing something like this though if its your first time working with carbon.. saves the effort of building a mould. Bit of carbon mast/rack/pole with a slot cut through and a wooden/nylon/whatever plug in the end to mount your swivel.



No comments on sh*tty quality of artwork... im bored, but not THAT bored


Edited by Isis

Strawberry - couldn't send these via private messenger.

Isis I am going to have to slightly modify the design so want to ensure plenty of strength.