Good question. I don’t have a great answer other than this was a proof of concept for the process and the directions of each layer may have just been chosen for example. I’m not sure what the team uses now, but I’m sure they have put more thought into it. This method should let you use any kind of layup you wish
I don't understand how you got compression of the fibres up to the mould surface?, you mention fillign the cavity with wax cloth and cotton and pressing it in. did that provide the compression? in which case what did the vacuum do? my experience of vacuum bagging is you need to have a tube inside your object and that tube exits to atmosphere, and so suction compresses teh tube onto the fibre and mould surface.
The bag goes inside the cone with enough extra material to suck into the cavity. The vacuum evacuates the air from the bag, and between the cracks of the mold, and the bag squeezes the mold and layup assembly. The trick was to get enough slack inside the cavity so when the air is sucked out the back is sucked down towards the tip. The atmosphere is still pushing on the bag outer surface, the contour of the mold is just a bit weird. I think I've seen what you mention with a tube, but that is for through-holes maybe.
What was your reasoning for going with a 45/90 angle for your layup as opposed to 0/90, or even 0/45/90/-45/0 for a balanced layup?
Good question. I don’t have a great answer other than this was a proof of concept for the process and the directions of each layer may have just been chosen for example. I’m not sure what the team uses now, but I’m sure they have put more thought into it. This method should let you use any kind of layup you wish
I don't understand how you got compression of the fibres up to the mould surface?, you mention fillign the cavity with wax cloth and cotton and pressing it in. did that provide the compression? in which case what did the vacuum do? my experience of vacuum bagging is you need to have a tube inside your object and that tube exits to atmosphere, and so suction compresses teh tube onto the fibre and mould surface.
The bag goes inside the cone with enough extra material to suck into the cavity. The vacuum evacuates the air from the bag, and between the cracks of the mold, and the bag squeezes the mold and layup assembly. The trick was to get enough slack inside the cavity so when the air is sucked out the back is sucked down towards the tip. The atmosphere is still pushing on the bag outer surface, the contour of the mold is just a bit weird. I think I've seen what you mention with a tube, but that is for through-holes maybe.