Composites

Composites were another fun and interesting learning experience. I decided to make the wings for a simple wind turbine. The process was very easy, but time consuming.

I made an aerodynamic shape in Corel Draw and duplicated it 100 times. The center of each layered tear drop has a hole to slide the cardboard "spine" in place and hold all the single pieces in line. The pieces begin to resemble a windmill once they were assembled. Composites turn this fragile and light structure into a solid durable structure by combining strengths of fabrics with the strengths of hard resin.


Wrapping the cardboard skeleton in burlap.


The order in which the composite vacuum materials are laid for forming.


The vacuum forming the shape.