Vacuum bag moulding is the primary composite manufacturing process for producing laminated structures.
[2][3] It is built of strong rubber-coated fabric or a polymer film used to compress the part during cure or hardening.
Consequently, uniform pressure approaching one atmosphere is applied to the surfaces of the object inside the bag, holding parts together while the adhesive cures.
[4] Carbon fibre fabric and fibreglass, along with epoxies and resins are popular materials laminated together with a vacuum bag operation.
Vacuum bags are used to laminate curved and irregular shaped workpieces in commercial woodworking facilities.
This procedure forms a seal at both ends of the bag when the vacuum is ready to be drawn.
The platen must have rounded corners and edges to restrict the vacuum from tearing the bag.