A custom bumper gives the vehicle a personality and a wide range of possibilities for self-expression. Bumpers of modern cars are made of fiberglass by hand molding or vacuum infusion technology.
The bumper of a modern car not only serves as a protective function, absorbing some of the force of an impact during a road accident, but is also one of the most remarkable elements of the exterior. The desire to give their car a unique appearance prompts car owners to search for new forms and design solutions.
Methods for making car bumpers do not involve the use of high-tech equipment, so this work can be performed not only by large tuning studios, but also by individual craftsmen or small teams of professionals. If you have the necessary skills and a certain amount of free time, you can make a bumper yourself in a garage workshop.
Bumpers are made of fiberglass - a composite material that allows you to create durable structures of complex geometric shapes. The production technology includes several stages - the development of a design project, the manufacture of a matrix, laying out the material and painting.
Design
The appearance of the bumper can either repeat an existing prototype or represent an original design solution. There are various ways to work out the design of the elements of the exterior of the car, from pencil sketches to 3D computer modeling. In some cases, manufacturers are challenged to completely replicate the original bumper design.
Making a matrix
The matrix is a device, the outer surface of which completely repeats the inner surface of the bumper. In a single production, matrices are made from special varieties of plasticine. Such a matrix is quite suitable for the manufacture of one product, and after the end of the work, the material can be reused.
In the production of a series of bumpers, a reusable matrix is required, which can be made from any durable and resistant material. Matrices made of glass mat and polyester resin are popular among auto-tuning masters.
Layout of material
On the surface of the matrix, layers of fiberglass are alternately laid out, which are impregnated with a binder resin. Also, the structure includes the power and fasteners necessary to secure the bumper to the car. In addition to manual laying, the method of vacuum infusion is used, in which the contact of layers of glass fabric is provided using a special device to create a local vacuum. The resulting structure is kept until hardened, after which it is sent for painting.
