CROSSGUARD

CROSSGUARD is the SHC composite manufacturing project. The purpose is to create rocket airframes, airfoils, support rods, and more with a variety of layup processes. The team plans to document each of the processes in order for the knowledge to be passed down to new members in the future.

Carbon Fiber PVA Roll-Up

The following is the process for the PVA roll-up process:

1. A 3D printed mold using PVA to create different shapes including cylinder, airfoil, and cuboid.

2. Epoxy resin is applied to the fiberglass or carbon fiber sheets using popsicle sticks or rollers.

3. The assembly is attached to the mold.

4. The mold shapes are then wrapped in non-stick plastic sheets to cover the composite.

5. The PVA molds along with the non-stick plastic sheets are compressed using heat shrink tape and evenly applied heat. 

6. The roll-ups are left to cure, then they are soaked in water to dissolve the PVA materials.

Fiberglass PVA Roll-Up

The first step to achieving CROSSGUARD's goal of being the hub for SHC composite manufacturing is to perform a variety of research and experiments, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) being one of the first materials we have tested. PVA has a melting point of approximately 200°C, allowing it to be used in 3D printing complex geometries as molds. The greatest advantage of PVA is that it is water soluble, making it easily removable. The process to the PVA roll-ups is explain to the left. The results of the PVA experiments were shown to be successful as a first step in the project because the PVA was dissolved in water and the roll-ups were separated from the set up. 

Our next steps for the projects is to create larger roll-ups!