Carbon Fiber Resin Jetting (3)

Resin Curing Test

We ran some resin curing tests without using powders to measure the time of curing and to find the percentage of initiator needed for the optimal ratio. Our team used Cyclohexene Oxide and 34-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3 4-epoxyclohexane carboxylate as an initiator and a thermal resin . With only one initiator, and low temperature of approximately 130 C degree, it took hours to cure. We found another initiator that hopefully can cure in shorter time.

The new resins we are going to test are called 1,4-Butanediol digly ether, and tert-Butyl glycidyl ether. I got help from a chemist who works at our adviser professor's lab to find these new resins. Our team will make sure to follow the standard guide for handling of hazardous materials and resins.

I contacted with several carbon fiber powder manufacturing companies such as Easy Composites, Zoltek, and Nanoshell to find optimal powders for our project. I tried buying Easy Composites first, however, there were complex regulations on purchasing powder form from overseas and the department suggested that we find a new vendor. Powders from Nanoshell are too expensive to run the printer. Zoltek sales manager sent us some sample powders before I could purchase a larger volume. The name of the product I tried is called PX35. These are the properties of the PX35:

While we were purchasing the powders, we also were working on cutting the printer's body frame. The laser cutter in the lab has been used. We should be able to start building the printer body and installing electronic parts next week.

Bottom hopper made out of acrylic board.