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Posted for "Karl J. Zimmer" <kjzimmer@gte.net>:

I am preparing to layup the aft portion of the main spar load pads on my
SFB 360.  Since this is a rather important structural layup I'd like to get it
right!  There are several curves that the cloth must fit around.  Are there
any tricks of the trade that would give me a bang-up layup?  References to
completed load pad photos would also be helpful.

Karl


[If you're using the plastic sandwich method of doing this layup I would
recommend that you do it 2-BID at a time... getting the air bubbles out
from underneath such a large and complex layup as this one if done any
thicker is fairly tough.  That's what I did when it was time to do mine and
it worked out rather well.  Another thing that you'll want to do is to
create patterns for each layup so cutting the 2-BID sandwich to the proper
shape can be accomplished quickly and accurately.  Most importantly, don't
forget that these are not bias layups and that the cloth orientation is 90
degrees, not 45 to the axes of the layups... I know, it's specified pretty
clearly in the manual, I just didn't want to leave that part out.  If you
alternate from side to side, 2-BID at a time, each layer will have time to
stiffen up just enough so that the addition of subsequent layers shouldn't
move what you're covering.  If you decide to stop somewhere in the middle
of the process and do 1/2 of the layups one day and the other 1/2 another,
be sure to peel ply your last layer so you don't have to sand all that
stuff before going on.

I'm sure if I've left anything out (or if there are other opinions out
there) you'll hear them here.    <Marv>   ]
 

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