I'm only making a small carbon fibre part. Can I skip the vacuum bagging stage, or is it an essential part of the process?
Vacuum bagging does an important job: it removes trapped air, compacts the laminate and helps the resin flow evenly as it cures. Some specialist systems have alternative processing methods, but most prepregs are designed to be vacuum bagged, and skipping the step usually increases the chance of voids, poor consolidation and inconsistent quality. For the best result, follow the full processing method the manufacturer specifies.
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