Mould Tooling System

Tooling Resins

To reduce the cost and duration of the tool-making process, tooling resin, a polyester laminating resin, is combined with an alumina trihydrate filler. This resin hardens quickly and experiences minimal shrinkage.

Skin Coats

When touched, the gelcoat or primer won’t come off because it has been sprayed on and given time to cure.

The issue of shrinkage with polyester and vinyl ester resins is real, and if not properly addressed, it can lead to unsightly cosmetic problems. One common solution is the use of a pre-laminated skin coat. This is simply a thin (3/4 oz or 200g) chopped strand mat that has been carefully applied over the gelcoat. As few laps as possible should be used, as thick areas will shrink and imprint onto the gelcoat surface if any bubbles are present. This can be applied uniformly across a section or only in vulnerable areas, such as core tapers or parts with heavier reinforcements.

Skin coats must be applied using a compatible laminating resin, which must chemically bond with the resin that will be infused into the part. Ensure the skin coat is dry to the touch (like gelcoat) before adding more laminate.

To address aesthetic issues, the part may sometimes require a surface ply co-infused with the laminate. This could be a nonwoven fabric, which is fluffier, or a thin mat like Lantor Finishmat, which helps keep a resin-rich layer against the surface of the part. While a nonwoven fabric is preferred, even a light woven fabric can be helpful because the thinner fiber bundles and smaller resin pockets will shrink less.

Tooling Gelcoats

When gloss preservation, high hardness, remarkable craze resistance, and minimal distortion are priorities, tooling gel coat—a gel coat resistant to abrasion—is used to fabricate molds.