Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16

Thread: Fiberglass help... Underside Layup

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Mooresville, NC / USA
    Posts
    18

    Fiberglass help... Underside Layup

    I would like to replace an aluminum panel on the bottom of my cabin with either fiberglass or CF. My reason for doing so...

    The AL panel is originally a flat piece of .025. To install it requires shaping and bending to match up the screw holes. This creates multiple compound curves. Naturally the AL wants to spring back to it's original shape (flat) which makes it a real PITA to install and remove. This is an area that requires frequent panel removal for access to fuel lines/filters, boost pump and gear leg oleo struts.

    In order to match the shape of the panel I would have to cast a layup in place and upside down. There is no way to remove the panel to perform the layup as it will not maintain the desired shape once removed.

    Does anyone have any suggestions for casting a layup from the bottom of an original part?

    My thought is...

    • Cover the in place bottom panel with silicone (release) film
    • Brush on epoxy resin
    • Let tack up
    • Layer on 8 harness fiberglass strips
    • Let set
    • Wet in the fabric and repeat.


    This seems like a gravity fighting sloppy mess...

    I am open to anything. I don't know or have the tools to shape AL, so that would be out of the question.

    Thank you for any thoughts or insights.

    Rob Caldwell

    Name:  IMG_3096.jpg
Views: 1174
Size:  19.4 KB
    Last edited by baldcaldwell; 03-23-2022 at 05:32 AM. Reason: Add pic

  2. #2
    DaleB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    KMLE
    Posts
    654
    I'm no expert, but here's what I'd try. Cut and lay out the fiberglass cloth on an oversized piece of Saran wrap. Pour on the epoxy, cover with another layer of Saran wrap. Roll out the epoxy so the cloth is completely wetted and excess epoxy is squeezed out. Now peel off the top layer of wrap, slap it onto the area to be covered, and wrap over it with more plastic wrap held in place with some tension by some wide painter's tape to hold it in place while the epoxy cures. You don't have to get the cloth cut to the exact size, you could make it a little oversized and trim to fit.

    I've done the Saran wrap thing a couple of times, and it works great. Van's recommends it for doing layups on canopy fairings, and I've used it for wheel pant repairs. The only complication in your case is doing it on the bottom side, and some stretch wrap and tape should do the trick there.
    Measure twice, cut once...
    scratch head, shrug, shim to fit.

    Flying an RV-12. I am building a Fisher Celebrity, slowly.

  3. #3
    rwanttaja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    2,948
    I presume the area you're wanting to work on is the unpainted area in the photo. With the exhaust pipes running parallel to it, what about heat? Will the fiberglass tolerate it? It's one thing to run a hot pipe through a generously-cut hole, but in this case the heat gets radiated over several inches.

    I had a similar problem when I bought my Fly Baby...there was a panel across the belly that was supposed to be 0.025" aluminum, that the builder apparently made out of battleship armor. Needed to be flexed to be installed, and that was a bear and a half to do.

    I got around it by making it a two-piece panel. Use another piece of aluminum for overlap, drill attachment holes BEFORE cutting the panel. Then cut the panel between the two sets of holes. Rivet the overlap strip to one side, and add anchor nuts to the other. This has worked very well for the past ~25 years.

    Name:  belly panel with anchor nuts.jpg
Views: 1005
Size:  62.6 KB
    The metal strip that joins the two is on the inside of the panel, so from the outside all you see is the rivet heads on one side and the screw heads on the other.

    The key factor is to drill all the holes (through the metal strip into the panel) BEFORE you cut the panel in half. That way, everything is solidly aligned.

    Ron Wanttaja
    Last edited by rwanttaja; 03-23-2022 at 10:18 AM.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Mooresville, NC / USA
    Posts
    18
    Thank you, @DaleB ! Good ideas.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Mooresville, NC / USA
    Posts
    18
    @rwanttaja

    No, actually the piece I am referring to is directly behind the tunnel (unpainted area). The piece with the gear leg struts protruding through the back. You can see that I have attempted to try what you have described in your renderings (thank you for that effort!). I divided the panel in two and joined them similar as you described. Unfortunately this did not resolve the issue I am still having, which is fighting with the aluminum panels to get them into the compound shape they assume when fully screwed in. They just want to spring back. I have tried pre-bending, or shaping them to match the compound shape. So I am considering fiberglass or CF to match the shape in place.

  6. #6
    planecrazzzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Brrrmidji , Minne-SNOW-ta
    Posts
    216
    What I'm going to suggest has nothing to do with fiberglass...

    Seems the trouble lies with the aluminum...

    When shaping aluminum...it gets hard and a little brittle...
    To keep shaping it without damaging it... Heat is applied to neutralize the tension that built up.
    .
    To know how much heat to apply , mark a "Sharpie" line on it...
    When the line DISAPPEARS... you have neutralized the tension and can continue shaping it.
    .
    In your case.... If you can use a propane torch "IN-PLACE" , it might help you fasten the piece you already have in place.
    Bend a piece of scrap aluminum and test it out... Sharpie and heat
    I like the push button propane burners...the larger ones ( $50 ) not the little flame 15 dollar ones...

    Make sure anything is COLD when you unscrew anything you heated to stress relieve.
    .
    Gotta Fly...
    .
    .

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Mooresville, NC / USA
    Posts
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by planecrazzzy View Post
    ... Heat is applied to neutralize the tension that built up.

    .
    I hear you... Unfortunately major fuel components (gascolator, boost pump & inline filter) are inches away from this panel. The gear struts are also oil filled and have rubber and neoprene surrounding them. Of least concern is that the panel has been painted...

  8. #8
    planecrazzzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Brrrmidji , Minne-SNOW-ta
    Posts
    216
    Well there you go... It can't be done.
    .
    Gotta Fly...

  9. #9
    cub builder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    North Central AR
    Posts
    456
    I've done upside down wet layups with fiberglass and carbon fiber. It's not easy or fun as gravity is always there and this stuff wants to fall off. If you have little composite experience, it's going to be a very frustrating, messy experience. About the only way to accomplish a wet layup while fighting gravity is using the plastic wrap method. I've had some moderate success with this method, but isn't something I'm anxious to do again. It would be easier if you made a jig to hold the piece in the shape you want, then use it as a mold to fabricate a new piece working right side up on a bench. Then it's easy!

    One thing I didn't see in your post was what grade and hardness aluminum was used to construct the existing part. Study your aluminums and hardness for forming to what you need. More than likely the existing panel is 2024-T3. Look into 6061 aluminum and the various hardnesses available and their forming qualities. There are a lot of different Aluminum alloys and most are available in various hardnesses. Each one has different working qualities for stiffness, formability, and resistance to cracking. That doesn't look like a difficult piece to form. You could form it from dead soft material, then use that as a form to do a composite layup on the bench.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Mooresville, NC / USA
    Posts
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by cub builder View Post
    I've done upside down wet layups with fiberglass and carbon fiber. It's not easy or fun as gravity is always there and this stuff wants to fall off. If you have little composite experience, it's going to be a very frustrating, messy experience. About the only way to accomplish a wet layup while fighting gravity is using the plastic wrap method. I've had some moderate success with this method, but isn't something I'm anxious to do again. It would be easier if you made a jig to hold the piece in the shape you want, then use it as a mold to fabricate a new piece working right side up on a bench. Then it's easy!

    One thing I didn't see in your post was what grade and hardness aluminum was used to construct the existing part. Study your aluminums and hardness for forming to what you need. More than likely the existing panel is 2024-T3. Look into 6061 aluminum and the various hardnesses available and their forming qualities. There are a lot of different Aluminum alloys and most are available in various hardnesses. Each one has different working qualities for stiffness, formability, and resistance to cracking. That doesn't look like a difficult piece to form. You could form it from dead soft material, then use that as a form to do a composite layup on the bench.
    All great thoughts! Thank you very much!

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •