CAPtain232

My Feedback: (40)

Composite information is something that alot of people are always looking for. How about helping me build a data base? If you have some good HOW-TOs, write them up in a word document or similar and email it to me. Every so often I will post this information in this forum to try to prevent REPEAT questioning. I will post this information as a "STICKY" that will stay at the top of the list. I will leave it there for a week or two and then change it to other information.


If you are interested, send this information to [email protected]


Types of subjects I am looking for.....
How to make COMPOSITE LANDING GEAR

How to make COMPOSITE WINGS/parts

How to make a plug/mold...detailed with gelcoating how tos

How to glass a wing

How to JOIN fiberglass fuse halves

WHERE to purchase materials

What glass/resin is best to use for different applications

Articles on building from a mold...steps taken to build the model with details on
release agents etc


Any information that you provide will be creditted in your name(s).


Thank you for your help

Mike James

My site at http://www.nextcraft.com has a lot of composite info, with an emphasis on plug and mold making. Most of the relevant links can be found on http://www.nextcraft.com/rcprojects.html and http://www.nextcraft.com/rcdesignandbuilding.html As of 10-31-03, I've also re-posted the construction article on the 1/3rd scale Berkut, at http://homepage.mac.com/mikejames/rc.../berkut01.html That article now includes two separate "sub articles" on making composite cowlings, and composite canopies. Finally, my "Links" page at http://www.nextcraft.com/rclinks.html also will lead to some nice articles by others.

Feel free to link to my site, or to any particular place on my site that seems appropriate.

This database is a great idea, and will not only be informative, but should help newcomers to RCU, who often keep asking the same questions over again.

Good luck with this, and thanks.

CAPtain232

My Feedback: (40)

Mike,

Do you have a problem with me COPYING some of the info?

Mike James

No problem, and thanks for asking!

I'm happy to share the information, and hope others will do the same. There are many participants here whose work is better than mine, and I'm a little surprised that more people haven't replied here. This could be a great central resource for composite knowledge. Come on, everybody!

Here are some more links related to composites:

Fibreglast.com http://www.fibreglast.com/

ACP Composites http://www.acp-composites.com/

CST Composites https://www.cstsales.com/home.htm

Freeman Manufacturing (*Check out their online videos) http://www.freemansupply.com/

Aircraft Spruce (supplies) http://www.aircraftspruce.com/index.php

Superior Balsa http://www.superiorbalsa.com/

SIG http://www.sigmfg.com/

National Balsa http://www.nationalbalsa.com/

Tekoa (foam cutting) http://www.tekoa.com/catalog.html

Penn Tool Company http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/products/2245.cfm

McMaster-Carr (everything!) http://www.mcmaster.com/

Micro Fasteners http://www.microfasteners.com/

BVM (Carbon parts, tools, how to's) http://www.bvmjets.com/menu.htm

CAPtain232

My Feedback: (40)

Guys.......I have been looking at some of the info on MIKES site....all I can say is that he has some VERY GOOD info there......

I will be getting it organized to post it here soon.


We still need more of you to step up and provide what info you can.

davidfee

You can use anything from my website: http://www.members.cox.net/davidfee/techniques.htm

I would like credit where appropriate, but I ask nothing more.

-David

ahdflyer

Hi Capt.,
I have been using techniques in the theme of the coroplast bunch (inexpensive). Is anyone using/has used foam core board aka art board for major component fabrication? This material is a stiff foam sandwiched between a dense poster board like paper, typically 3/16" thick and now available in Staples, Walmart, etc. A small group of us have been building with this material for years. A typical trainer requires 3 sheets (24"X30" @ $1 -2.00 ea.) and can be "folded up" in 3-4 evenings.
We have successfully created some rather complicated standoff scale aircraft also. Unlike coroplast, planes made with foam core can look just like conventional balsa or sheeted foam planes.
If anyone is interested, we can post pictures.

soholingo

I am interested post pictures.

Jay

DrFun

My Feedback: (4)

I am interested also

ahdflyer

Thanks for your interest. Check out this thread with my pictures and some great work by others;

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Inexpensive_construction_material%2Dfoam_core_boar d/m_1293891/tm.htm[/link]

bojangle

How about calling the forum "Composites for Dummies" hehe. I know nothing about carbon fiber, but want to use it for a tail boom on a pod and boom electric pusher. My questions involve proper size to weight optimizing, how to glue, etal. I'm an old time balsa cruncher.
I found this site by accident in a search. http://www.graphitestore.com

impactiq

My Feedback: (57)

First off... I would like to thank you guys for all the info and time you have put in it! But, most of all....willing to share your valued info. for guys like me. It has been a big help!

rcairplanenut

How do you guys join all glass fuse???????????????

sgg

davidfee

sgg,

Here's how I do it:
http://www.members.cox.net/davidfee/...olds.htm#Part3

-David

rcairplanenut

Nice,

I am used to makeing wheel pants, on that i join the 2 sides after they are done cureing.

I am working on a plug for a 2+2 pattern plane, the cowl, canopy, and vstab/rudder as all one part.
It will be months of prep work on the plug intill i pull a mold from it.
I was planing on a left and right mold, because of thevstab/rudder being attached to the fuse.
The joining method you showed me might work for my plane.

sgg

rcairplanenut

I am planing on useing 3 layers of 4oz glass on my fuse with some Kevlar renforecments in high stress areas. Do you guys ever add anything other then glass to fuse skins? balsa exc.........

SGG

davidfee

You name it, it has probably been used for sandwich panels on fuselage sides.

-David

Darrinc

My Feedback: (5)

Always. You are using the multible layers of heavy glass to build thickness. Why not use a single layer of thin glass/core/thin glass to have the same results at a third of the weight?

rcairplanenut

Because once again there are multiple ways to skin a cat Darrinc, lets not bring the feud you started in the other thread into this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BVM, Yellow aircraft and a whole slew of the other big names in RC high tech aircraft use a few layers of glass as majority of there fuselages, I know I have worked on them!

Because I am building a mold for my own design I can try out a variety of lay-up secludes for the shells. There is no perfect solution, as always logistics will determine the outcome.

I usually put my rx antenna in the back side of the fuse, so big sheets of Carbon will be no good back their.

For the rest of the folks out there the hostility was only directed at Darrinc, NOT any of you guys
I am very open to constructive ideas that will lead to progress not put downs

I do hold a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace / Aeronautical engineering so don’t be afraid to bring up terms like “moment of inertia, stress, strain, E, v, a, exc…………. I do speak the language.

SGG

rcairplanenut

I like the link to the Joining fuse page, thank you Davidfee

Vacuum bagging is a good solution, I have done it before but it is a giant pain in the ________ to do.

Adhering balsa to this with epoxy during the lay-up process would require a vacuum bag

I do have rolls of Kevlar, S-Glass and Carbon on hand

For general sanity I am planning on a fuselage structure similar to what you would see on a BVM or yellow aircraft.

So far I think Kevlar placed in positions that will maximize the fuselages moment of inertia is a good way to go, it can be applied in an air exposed hand wet lay-up. Might use some Carbon near the firewall and general engine area.

Any Pattern or Racing guys in here what’s the lay up seclude on your fuselages.

What are you all using as your epoxy, I am using Aero Poxy though Aircraft Spruce?


SGG

davidfee

In electric pylon, our fuselages are usually 2 or 3 layers of 1.7oz Kevlar in the front and a mixture of uni and bi-directional carbon in the tailboom. They are made with high-temp epoxy because the batteries often come out of the plane at >200F at the end of a <70s run.

The layup schedule will depend greatly on the size of the fuselage and the loads it must support.

-David

rcairplanenut

Good stuff,

I’m not electric, but I will have a tuned pipe in the bottom of the fuse (the heat stuff).

davidfee

SGG,

I want to ask something here about something you said in another thread, since it seems to fit better here. You made a comment about some EAA guys painting their aircraft dark colors to prove a point. Can you be more specific?

Composite planes (esp full scale) are often painted white to minimize heat build-up and reduce the chances of warping. If high-temp epoxy is used and the parts are post-cured, this should not be such a problem. Most composite home-builts are made with room-temp epoxy and are not post-cured, so white paint is a good idea.

If I'm totally barking up the wrong tree here, please correct me.

On that other subject, I think Futaba made the statement they did about carbon fiber in an effort to appease the public and, more importantly, cover their behind. There are a lot of variables.

-David

rcairplanenut

I don’t even want to get into the paint thing on my theories. But you ask Lanceair, Velocity, Glassair what color to paint a full size home built plane and they will tell you white or a light color. However there are a few “balls to the wind” guys that will paint there Lanceairs exc dark red or black and they said they did it to prove a point that you can paint it a dark color. Just like the Carbon thing it is a suggestion from the experts (IE the manufactures), some people just don’t care about what they think.

Note for the “nit pickers” out there this is stuff I observed at air venture 93,94,97,00,03 I am not making this stuff up.

The Futaba thing is between you and them.

On the SAE heavy lifter aircraft (a 6000$ project) that I was the chief pilot on we had a carbon boom, when the antenna was inside it, chatter and erratic control was the result. Once we put the antenna in a plastic tube out side the boom the problem went away! Not every one is living happily ever after in the world of Carbon Fiber.

davidfee

As far as the paint color thing goes, I think we're dealing with a possible misunderstanding. And I'm not accusing you of anything here. There is no "law" which states a composite plane must be painted white, or else mysterious bad things will happen to it. I can't speak for the EAA guys, but I can speak about my own projects, including AIAA DBF planes. Wings, especially, are painted white for the reasons I already mentioned (heat, mainly). Look at the full scale composite sailplanes for another example. It's not to be boring and it's certainly not superstitious... it's completely practical.

I'm glad you got the SAE antenna problem resolved. As I said, there are a lot of variables. One of the variables is that there are many types of carbon fiber. If you prefer to build without carbon, that's fine and I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise. However, if I see what I believe to be a misunderstanding or a false belief, I may step in and say something. I most certainly do not "have it in for you," and I don't believe anyone else here does either.

Enjoy your hobby.

-David