How i create the oven
When I decided to use PrePreg, I was aware this would require an oven. I knew since the beginning that the big size of the mold mean a large size oven.
With a quick research around my town, I realized no one would be able to cure the parts for me.
So I decided to build mine.
I simply started with some medium wood cut to dimensions and assembled together with wood screws. Inside the box were bonded some insulation panels, 30mm thick. Basically these panels are made of
PU with aluminum sheets on both sides and can withstands about 200 degrees C.
A circular heater and the fan of an old cooking oven were placed in the bottom center of the box.
Some old metal sheet found at garbage perfectly fit the width of the inside. I used them as a heat deflector. It also help to circulate the pulsed air inside the heating enveloppe and create like an
air flow.
The key component which control the temperature is the PID.
Inkbird are basic PID ; some positive reviews on the internet convinced me that was the equipment I needed.
Electric wiring is not my cup of tea, so I ask my friend to jump into the project and give an help.
This wasn’t so complicate,
Basically, a sensor is placed near the heater and give the temperature information to the PID, so it can reach the requested temperature with almost 2 degrees precision and keep it stable.
To make sure it was accurate, I used a sensor placed at multiple positons in the oven. Recurrent check confirmed the PID was correctly set 👍
The oven was ready to use, this was time to laminate the Prepreg into the molds - click here to see
it with pictures
