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stator mold | 14 comments (14 topical, editorial)

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Mon Jul 21st, 2008 at 06:40:03 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

Hi! Plywood works well but the plastic does make a nice mold. Ours is from HDPE (high density polyethylene) - it's basically 'cheap common plastic'. Be careful because the resin will melt/adhere to some plastic, we've not had very good luck with plexiglass...

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by oregon wind on Mon Jul 21st, 2008 at 09:32:27 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi Dan, thanks for your response.

I have made a few stators using plywood. Works well, but I would like something more durable.

At the Guemes Island workshop last year I liked your HDPE molds.

I called the local plastic company, and they want $330 a sheet for 1/2" HDPE.

I was thinking of maybe making the mold from steel instead. I have some here.

Do you see any problems with this idea?

Thanks

[ Parent ]

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by DanB (danb@*no spam*otherpower.com) on Mon Jul 21st, 2008 at 03:53:06 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.otherpower.com/

you shouldn't need a full sheet really. Even a bit of thin stuff to line a plywood mold on the bottom and top would be good, and ifyou're really picky then get some half inch stuff for the sides.
If you make the mold out of HDPE only - it will warp over time. We've wound up bolting ours to some very thick partical board (from a solid door) to keep it flat.

[ Parent ]

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Flux on Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 at 01:21:31 AM MST
(User Info)

Steel can be used for moulds but the surface finish would need to be good and you would need to include a reasonable "draw" angle. A flash of nickel or chrome plate would help considerably.

Unless you are going into large scale production I can't see it being worthwhile.

Polyester virtually sticks to nothing and will be easy. I have no experience of vinyl ester but it shares many properties with epoxy. From experiences at work years ago, epoxy released well from cold moulds as long as the surface finish was near perfect. WE had need to hot mould some epoxy items and these were a real pain to release especially on new moulds. In desperation we heated some of the moulds to blueing temperature and the oxide formed helped considerably.

Flux

[ Parent ]

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by oregon wind on Mon Jul 21st, 2008 at 07:15:00 PM MST
(User Info)

Thanks for the info!

Any thoughts on using steel with a good mold release instead of hdpe?

[ Parent ]

Re: stator mold (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by colej (colej@castle-ranch.com) on Thu Sep 11th, 2008 at 08:04:51 PM MST
(User Info)

I have used Boron Nitride as mold release when doing aluminum castings, I've never tried it with resins, but if it can hold up to molden aluminum, i bet it'll withstand the chemical reaction of resin.
You can get a can of Boron Nitride mold release from Grainger industrial supply for about $23/can.

Make your steel mold with a slight draft angle and spray a nice thick coat of BN over all the contact surface and it should work.

Good luck
jac

[ Parent ]

stator mold | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

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