Composite

the lecture of this week is about composite material

we have to make experimentation with resin and fibre to make strength item by combining this 2 component.

taking inspiration from marvel hero I try to build a Capitan America's shield.

i take a 3d model of the shield and fixed the geometry in blender: I delete the mesh inside to make a "single volume" solid.

after that I make a boolean subtraction to make the negative mold file for the cnc machine. i use a foam piece about 60x60x6 cm and i engrave the 3d shape in it.

meanwhile the cnc mill was working i decide to make the shield full colour by putting some coloured tissue on it.
for this reason i buy red, blue and with tissue and try to laser it.
I make a projection of the shield on 2d plane in rhino to make the dimension of the round and the star ready to be lasercutt, I offset a little bit the outer border to have a nice overlap of the 2 fabric.

now come the difficoult part,as i decide to make the negative side for have a nice superficial definition, there is the bad side that is that now i have to find a solution to make the resin coat well all the part and do not stick to the foam.

For this reason i try to make the foam harder and a little bit minus porous by adding some layer of vinyl glue and water and let them dry

after that i try to coat the foam with a food plastic film using some other glue.

after the plastic film stick to the foam, i prepare the resin (2 part of resin and 1 or catalyst)an use a heavy cotton tissue to make the substrate with the resin.

I take 2 big pieces of this tissue and with the hand I make the resin penetrate in the fibre really well and also in the detail of the mold; Mattia Ciurnelli helped me in this process

The tissue was very porous so it absorbed the resin really well and become really strong.
I let it dry for 24 hours and after i take it out of the mold.
with the help of sand paper and a metallic brush i take off the plastic film that remains stick to the resin.

I used some other resin to make the finishing by putting the coloured fabric I laser catted before.

After the resin dry I use a electric cutter to clean the border and after i finish them with sand paper.

OT

in the final part of the shield construction some resin left in my mixing case so i decided to preserv for the future generation a satshakit and i cover it of resin... here is it...it still working

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