Method for compression molding a composite material fixed angle rotor

Abstract

A method for the compression molding of composite fiber fixed angle rotors is disclosed. A female mold member defines a closed cylinder cavity for molding the bottom surface of the rotor, this cavity usually defining a frustum shaped central cavity complimentary to and concentric with the spin axis of the ultimately formed rotor. A male mold member having a complimentary cylindrical profile contains a frustum shaped inner cavity with the apex of the frustum disposed to the inner portion of the cylinder and the base end of the frustum exposed to the cylindrical opening of the female mold. This frustum shaped inner cavity defines the exterior frustum shape of the ultimately produced rotor and defines between the exterior frustum profile and the frustum shaped inner cavity a rotor body wall having sufficient thickness to receive the sample tube apertures. At the apex end of the frustum shaped cavity in the male mold member, there is located a lock system for maintaining sample tube aperture cores. These sample tube aperture cores are locked within the frustum cavity in the precise alignment of the ultimately formed sample tubes of the rotor. Loading of the mold with resin pre-impregnated fiber typically occurs in the frustum shaped cavity of the male mold member and at the bottom of the female mold member. A compression molded rotor product is MANUFACTURED having discontinuous fibers optimally disposed to resist the forces of centrifugation.