A fiberglass laminator applies resin-saturated fiberglass to a mold to create strong and lightweight components for boats, golf carts, and automobiles. They remove air bubbles, mix resins, and trim parts to final size. Two common methods are hand lay and chipping gun.
A fiberglass laminator applies fiberglass to a mold to create components for boats, golf carts and automobiles. Using a tool called a gun or using your hands to press the resin-saturated fiberglass mat into the mold, the fiberglass laminator ensures that all areas of the mold are covered with a sufficient amount of fiberglass mat to provide the desired strength the finished component. Another job of the fiberglass laminator is to press out all the air bubbles and air pockets from the fiberglass mat to provide a solid sheet of mold fiberglass. Other tasks include mixing the resins, removing the cured product from the mold, and trimming the parts to final size.
Fiberglass is a very strong yet lightweight material used to create boat hulls, decks and interior panels, as well as golf cart bodies, race car components and aircraft components. A common fiberglass component is created by placing a resin-saturated fiberglass mat into a mold and allowing the fiberglass to cure or harden. Once hardened, the fiberglass is removed from the mold and a finished part is created. The fiberglass laminator’s job is to ensure that all steps are followed to create a strong, safe, quality component.
There are two common methods of producing a fiberglass panel or component from a mold: the hand lay method and the chipping gun method. The hand-applied fiberglass method is completed by a fiberglass laminator that applies resin to a section of fiberglass mats and places it in a specific location within the mold. This process is repeated until the entire mold is covered with the required thickness or layers of fiberglass mat.
Air bubbles are removed from the mold by the fiberglass laminator through a process of running a squeegee or roller over the panels. This moves any trapped air from the center to the outer edge of the mold. To reinforce many types of fiberglass components, the fiberglass laminator will place strips of wood or aluminum on the final layers of fiberglass to act as stiffeners when the fiberglass cures.
The second method involves the use of a pneumatic gun. This tool etches small pieces of fiberglass and a thin layer of resin, operating similarly to a paint gun. The fiberglass laminator directs the cutting gun towards the mold and allows the material to develop to a uniform thickness within the mold. Any reinforcing materials are placed into position and then more material is applied over them. Air bubbles are removed as in the handmade method, by the fiberglass laminator pressing the air out of the fiberglass with a squeegee or roller.
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