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 Posted 11/29/2004 3:35:50 PM |
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Hey there. Tim from www.1989batmobile.com sent me an e-mail talking about Vacuum Infusion Technology. I had no idea what it was, so I set out to find out. After a very brief search, I found out. I found out, that it would make a GREAT method for building Batmobile bodies!!! Has anyone else ever thought about using this method? If you are unfamiliar with it, there is a 12 page PDF file for download on my site.
http://www.thebatcave8k.com/download/Vacuum_Infusion_Technology.pdf
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| Posted 11/29/2004 6:50:35 PM |
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| ive used this method for smaller items and it works well, but when it comes the car bodies, unless u got the space and money to set this way up ites really easyer to just spray the mold with a fiberglass chopper.
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| Posted 11/30/2004 12:19:48 PM |
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| what is a fiberglass chopper? please help.
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| Posted 11/30/2004 12:36:04 PM |
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It's a chopper that chops fiberglass.
Thank you thank you very much
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| Posted 11/30/2004 12:54:40 PM |
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The first question; Vacuum forming is a great way to make fiberglass components. It is very costly and can only be used to make smaller parts. Making an entire body would make it cost ineffective.
Blown or chooped Vs: hand laid. Blown bodies is very cheap and a quick method for laying up bodies. Hand laid is labor intensive and costly. Hand laid cars are lighter stronger and better from all stand points as far as quality goes.
Kevin
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| Posted 11/30/2004 2:36:01 PM |
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I think you guys must be confusing vacuume infusion with something else. It is not costly, it can and is used to make very large parts and it doesn't take any more space than any other process.
Tim
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| Posted 11/30/2004 3:05:39 PM |
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Yeah, I obviously am not a fabricator and I have no experience WHATSOEVER in making car bodies - but the impression I got from reading the PDF file was that it was hard to get set up, but once it was set up you acytually SAVE money on resin since there is almost zero waste, it is VERY consistent as far as amount of product (almost completely eliminating human error) and the parts that are produced are much stronger than traditional parts (in fact, if I read correctly, they specifically pointed out that large parts can be made MUCH stronger than with other methods).
But like I said - I am not a fabricator and I have not ever used ANY of these methods. I just read stuff on the internet. 
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| Posted 11/30/2004 4:26:35 PM |
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You're exactly right, Justin. And one of the best things about it is everything is all set up before any resin is introduced. The fiberglass, core materials (if used), tubing, plastic sheeting, etc. can all be set up by one person taking as long as necessary. You could even break for lunch and come back later to finish the job. Only after everything is in place and you're satisfied that everthing is ready to go and that there are no leaks do you mix your resin, Then you just unclamp your resin tube and let the vacumm draw the resin into the piece. All you have to do at this point is sit around and watch it go. Once everything is wetted out, you re-clamp your resin tube and let it cure.
Tim
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| Posted 11/30/2004 6:29:27 PM |
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as i siad the vaccume technology is great, but on this scale it would take a pretyt penny to set up, i know a few palces that actuly use this mehthod to create car bodies, and it does mkae the body stronger then hand laying. reaons for this is becuase u dont have as much space inbetween the hand layed fiberglass, parts because they are compressed togeather, and u do save on resin. but unless u are planning to create more then 20 batmobiles this is really not cost effetive.
best way to go is a fiberglass chopper and as Donovan siad it bacily chops fiberglass, it takes strands of fiberglass and chops them up and spits them in the mold, most choppers also blow resin in at the same time, although i have seen a few that dont and u actuly need a resin gun 2. it doesnt take long to do. fiberglass choopers good ones usly run 500.00 to 800.00 but u can get them as low as 350.00
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| Posted 11/30/2004 6:36:10 PM |
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Explain how it's not cost effective and how it would cost a "pretty penny" to set up?? The only major expense would be the pump and that would run about $300 for a good one.
Tim
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