Composite lab
Fiber & resin kit
Vacuum bagging system
Testing equipment
The Composite Lab equips students with hands-on fiber-reinforced material fabrication skills from hand layup and resin chemistry through vacuum bagging, mechanical testing, and industrial processes like resin transfer molding and filament winding building the same foundations used in aerospace, automotive and marine composites training programs.
Equipment overview
Three modules covering the full composite fabrication skillset
Materials starter kit
Fiber reinforcements
Glass fiber fabric (multiple sizes), carbon fiber sheets (sample pack)
Resin systems
2-part epoxy resin (5L), polyester resin (5L), hardener/catalyst set
Layup consumables
Mixing cups & sticks, mold release agent, plastic measuring tools, layup trays
Safety equipment
Full safety bundle for resin handling and fabrication work
Processing & application stations
Vacuum bagging station
Vacuum bagging system, breather fabric, peel ply, portable vacuum pump and digital pressure gauge.
Curing & heat station
Basic curing oven, heating element, and infrared thermometer for cure monitoring.
Layup application tools
Application rollers, brushes and applicator sets for hand layup work.
Testing, quality control & advanced fabrication - A learning progression
Composite fundamentals & safety
Fiber and resin chemistry, PPE use, and safe handling protocols.
Hand layup techniques
Fiber orientation, clocking, and building first laminates.
Vacuum bagging & infusion
Breather fabric, peel ply and controlled resin infusion.
Mechanical property testing
Tensile, flexural and impact testing against ASTM-style standards.
Failure analysis
Inspecting laminates for defects and optimizing layup design.
Resin transfer molding
Closed-mold processing for repeatable, higher-quality parts.
Capstone fabrication project
Design, build, test and present a structural composite component.
Composite Lab Timeline
How the curriculum progresses over the school year
1
Months 1 - 3
Materials & fundamentals
2
Months 3 - 6
Advanced manufacturing
3
Months 6+
Industrial applications
The Three Pillars of Skill Education
Every school covers all three categories-mandatory framework, Classes V-X
Agriculture, floriculture /hydroponics, animal husbandry, environmental studies-110 hrs/yr
Electronics/robotics, automotive, carpentry, textile design, food production-110 hrs/yr
Healthcare, retail/e-commerce, BFSI, tourism & hospitality, beauty & wellness
Cross-sector & emerging (highly recommended): IT/ITES Artificial Intelligence AVGC-integrated across all three pillars.
Key learnings
Materials science
Fibers, resins, laminates
Hand layup & molding
Wet layup to vacuum bagging
Process control
Curing, pressure, temperature
Mechanical testing
Tensile, flexural, impact
Advanced fabrication
RTM, filament winding
Industry exposure
Aerospace, automotive, marine
Why schools should build it
Fulfils NEP 2020's experiential and industry-linked skilling mandate directly
Builds genuine fabrication and quality-control skills used across advanced manufacturing
Introduces materials and processes unique to aerospace, automotive and marine industries
Prepares students for composites technician pathways and advanced-manufacturing careers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a composite lab?
A dedicated fabrication space where students build fiber-reinforced composite parts — from hand layup and resin mixing through vacuum bagging, curing and mechanical testing.
Who funds and monitors the lab?
Setup is funded through the school's grant allocation and procured via GeM; usage and outcomes are tracked by the nominated in-charge teacher each term.
What safety precautions does resin handling require?
Students work with PPE (gloves, respirators, goggles), ventilated workspaces, and supervised chemical storage all included as part of the safety package.
Is it aligned with PM SHRI and NEP norms?
Yes the equipment list, curriculum progression and safety guidelines are mapped directly to PM SHRI infrastructure norms and NEP 2020's experiential and vocational skilling mandate.
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