Creating Laminating Base - V1 - Wood Support¶
25° wooden base with acrylic sheets for laminating carbon fin blades.
Goal¶
Create a rigid angled surface to support fin blades during lamination.
Specifications / Dimensions¶
Dimensions
- Long Side (Flat):
- Minimum width: 25cm (to accommodate 20cm blade width and additional room).
- Minimum length: 30cm (to fit a 25cm blade length and additional room).
- Angled Side (23°–25° Incline):
- Angle: 23 degrees (or 25° based on matching geometry).
- Minimum width: 25cm (to match blade width).
- Minimum length: 20cm (to fit 15cm blade length and extra space).
Reference Images¶
 |
 |
|---|---|
| Full Support Structure | Brackets and Side Supports |
Time needed¶
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Implementation | 1 h |
| Waiting | 0 h |
Bill of Materials¶
| Material | Quantity | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic sheet (A3) Reusable 3 mm clear sheet cut to 420 × 297 mm |
1 1 sheet A3 sheet (2 mm) | £10.00 per 1 sheet A3 sheet (2 mm) | £10.00 |
| Acrylic sheet (A4) Reusable 2 mm clear sheet cut to 210 x 297 mm |
1 1 sheet A4 sheet (2 mm) | £5.50 per 1 sheet A4 sheet (2 mm) | £5.50 |
| Softwood board offcuts Reusable 1 cm thick timber for base and angled supports |
1 set | £5.00 | £5.00 |
| Angle brackets and screws Reusable Two galvanised brackets with matching screws |
1 set | £4.20 | £4.20 |
| Double sided-tape Consumable Thin acrylic tape to secure sheets to timber |
1 roll | Inexpensive | |
| Total | £24.70 |
Tools Required¶
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Wood saw | Cut the laminating base supports to length |
| Screwdriver | Drive screws to secure brackets and maintain the angle |
| Tape measure | Check dimensions and spacing during setup |
| Sandpaper | Prepare and smooth surfaces for better adhesion and finish |
Instructions (step-by-step)¶
-
Base Construction
- Use 1cm thick timber to create a solid base.
- Cut wooden side supports to a 23°–25° angle to replicate blade geometry.
- Secure side supports to the flat base using metal brackets for rigidity.
-
Laminating Platform
- Tape clear Acrylic Perspex sheets (A3 and A4 sizes) onto the wooden base using thin double-sided adhesive tape.
- Ensure the surface is smooth and taut to properly press against the blade.
Data to Record / Results¶
- Notes on surface flatness after cure
- Any deformation or movement during lamination
Limitations¶
- Does not scale well: In order to create bigger fins, the wooden structure needs to be re-worked.
- Vacuum Bag Fit: Ensure the base with acrylic layers fits entirely into the vacuum bag.
- Air Trapping Issue: The gap between the angled section and wooden supports bends the acrylic during vacuum bagging