Troubleshooter

Troubleshooter 27 Jan 2023

Proper application of semi-permanent mold release systems

Performing regular maintenance of the layup tool for successful sealing and release is required to reduce the risk of part adherence.

Troubleshooter 18 Nov 2022

The importance of resin mixing procedures in the composites shop

What is considered to be common knowledge when storing, handling, weighing, mixing and deploying epoxy resins and adhesives has brought to light the need for tighter control, improved practices.

Troubleshooter 19 Sep 2022

Why does my composite mold leak under vacuum or applied pressure?

Louis Dorworth of Abaris Training Resources outlines key considerations to make when fabricating quality composite molds to minimize risk of leakage under pressure or vacuum.

Infusion 20 Jul 2022

Doing the twist: A look at dimensional issues in high-temperature cured laminates

When it’s not the tooling, the root cause of dimensionally inaccurate composite parts often boils down to two things: fiber form(s) used and laminate symmetry.

Troubleshooter 29 Jun 2022

Fostering best practices for wet layup procedures

As fabricators continue to manufacture composite tools and parts using an open mold, wet layup process — often with mixed success — it’s important to stress proper preparation, materials, application methods and standardization.

Troubleshooter 18 May 2022

Troubleshooting thermal design of composite battery enclosures

Materials, electrical insulation and certification are all important factors to consider when optimizing electric battery performance against potential thermal runaway.

Repair 25 Mar 2022

Alternate heat sources for hot-bonded composite repairs

Successfully using an alternate heat source for repairing composite structures requires an awareness of thermal dynamics and effective heat transfer management.

Repair 24 Nov 2021

A second look at cobonded tapered scarf repairs for composite structures

Composites repairs, such as cobonded tapered scarf repairs, seek to sufficiently restore structural loads so that components perform without failure

Troubleshooter 20 Sep 2021

Avoiding the pitfalls of vacuum infusion processing

Understand the fundamentals of vacuum infusion processing (VIP), including pressure, permeability and race tracking, to prevent issues and produce consistent results.