Layup help

I want to lay the pictured plug up with some red carbon fiber. I don't know how to deal with the bend or the corners. Obviously, I need radiuses and glue/fills.

I also want the bottom edges to look nice and am looking for advice on how to laminate the thing so I can bolt it on top of a flat surface and it looks professional.

I can wet bag it. The plug stays in place. This is a binnacle mount.

thanks for any; gonna google a bit as well

 

Will it have a flange around the base perimeter?

 

The flange could be internal on a gasket to hide it and the fasteners.

 

Are the plug fastenings ferrous?
Will they throw off the compass reading?

 

Rather than try and make that thing work as a plug and then make a mold that would have to be cleaned up and then make a part, it would be better to make a quick, temporary mold of something like formica, fill the corners with modeling clay or and then make a part that could be easily cleaned up. Use an inside flange with bolts or screws from underneath to secure it. It would be basically what you have, just that thing turned over and the binnacle mount laminated inside after the clay or moldmaking corner wax was applied.

 

yes, the plan is the 2nd sketch u did

 

not following you at all. I want the high density material to both bolt on the binnacle and the inside flange to bolt to the dash/helm area

I want to know if my carbon will lay down nice is all. The carbon is not doing any work here; just for looks.

 

just mounting the engine control head on the large flat section

the carbon is jist for looks

 

I misunderstood. Since you said a plug I thought you were making a mold for a fiberglass compass binnacle.

 

Anyone know if the carbon will make the bend or another option?

 

If you buy this kit at aircraft spruce COMPOSITE MATERIALS PRACTICE KIT | Aircraft Spruce https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/practicekit.php?clickkey=7080381
It contains all the materials and a manual and you have some book ends for a book shelf, but they were designed in such a way that it covers every aspect of fiberglass layup including covering internal and external corners, lapped joints with peel ply etc etc. Its actually pretty demanding to make properly, but if you follow the directions you will learn a lot of the technique that you need to know. $118 for the kit and manual. Cheap education

 

What about prelaminating the carbon on a layup table, and then adhering it to the part in the same way you would do a wood veneer?

 

You need 1/4" to 3/8" minimum radius for the graphite to turn the corner, either inside or outside radius's.
That assumes it is not too thick. Since it is decorative you can go pretty thin.
You are going to have difficulty where the side meets the bottom and the face. Difficult to make that look nice.
You might practice before you commit to the final product.
Don't leave any open gaps in the box like you show. The graphite will sag into the gap and make it look bad.

What is "red" graphite?

Aren't you going to need a door to access the insides to bolt/ screw on the mount?

 

No open gaps. We just didn't get all the fill and radius work done as I was worried about the vee shape.

Red carbon.

And you are wise! I have access to the inside via a helm access door in the shower so plan to cut a small hole and bolt and 4200 this thing on.

 

Carbon Fiber/Red Kevlar Fabric 2x2 Twill 3k 50"/127cm 6.6oz/222gsm High Density https://compositeenvisions.com/carbon-fiber-red-kevlar-fabric-2x2-twill-3k-50-127cm-6-6oz-222gsm-high-density/

I got a couple yards of this..it has stabilisation; whatever that is!