𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 : 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝? 👀

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝? 👀

The spray-up process is an open-mould manufacturing technique that partially automates wet lay-up by depositing chopped reinforcement fibers and liquid resin simultaneously.

A chopper attachment cuts continuous glass-fiber roving into short lengths, typically 25 to 75 mm, before the fibers are combined with the resin stream and sprayed onto the mould. Successive passes build up the laminate to the required thickness.

Unlike hand lay-up, where reinforcement can be positioned in specific directions, spray-up produces a random fiber orientation, which influences the mechanical properties of the finished part.

Once the material has been deposited, the laminate is rolled to compact the layers and help remove trapped air. This can be done manually for smaller components or with automated systems for larger surfaces.

Spray-up is also used to apply gel coat before the reinforcement layers, providing the moulded part with its surface finish.

A relatively simple process, widely used for manufacturing large composite components where production rate and moulding cost are key considerations. 🛠️

Bibliographical Reference:Handbook of Composite Fabrication - Page 59

source : The Native Lab