Carbon Fiber - 0060 Basic Manufacture Steps

The basic process, regardless of the materials used, involves the following steps:

1. Lay-up: Stacking the ply materials, either manually or automatically.

2. Curing: Exposure to elevated temperatures and pressure, typically using an autoclave or similar equipment. This step includes:

• • • Heating, which reduces the viscosity of the resin.
    • Thermal expansion of the tool.
    • Vacuum application to remove volatiles.
    • Pressure application, initiating laminate consolidation.
    • Optional removal of the vacuum.
    • Resin begins to gel, setting the part's geometry.
    • Heating continues until the resin is fully cured.
    • Controlled cooling of both the part and tool to prevent cracking of the resin matrix.
    • Tool shrinks during cooling.

3. Post-cure: Final trimming, machining, and inspection of the components