Gauging interest: New CF Hood styles - Page 2

slo-two · 06-21-2007, 03:32 PM

That NSX-R style hood looks OK, but I'd prefer one without the raised lip because 1) it adds unnecessary drag and 2) it doesn't fit in with 2 styling (it looks more at home on a Honda with their more angular appearance).

Don't ban me from the composites topic just for asking, but...for very small production runs (less than 100) might aluminum not be a better material? You still save a lot of weight over the steel tabletop, especially with the vent structure which allows thin material to make a solid structure. Of course it doesn't look as cool, so it depends on how much money the carbon look (and about two pounds) are worth to you...

turboguy · 06-21-2007, 06:30 PM

A small run of something like that in aluminum would be much more costly than carbon or fg. To make a nice smooth hood, it has to be stamped. The top side , middle, and the lower skeleton. The costs that go into making the dies is unfathomable for something with a small production run. For something like a hood, a die set could cost in upwards of $10 - 20k or more depending on complexity of the whole thing. A good set of molds can be made for $2 - 4K. Materials cost slightly more for cf vs. alum, but the tooling is much cheaper. Fees for using a press capable of supporting dies of this size isn't cheap either.

slo-two · 06-21-2007, 08:52 PM

OK, I stand corrected...thanks for the info. I was assuming there was a feasible method of roll 'n weld etc., but if that's not feasible, then composites would seem the only viable way.

BTW, is there a practical way to make one-off parts? For example, a simple hood or sunroof. The only way I know of, though it hardly seems especially light or stiff, would be composites over a formed wooden structure. Which might require a boat license...

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06-21-2007, 03:32 PM	#21 (permalink)
slo-two Do the Math. Then Drive. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central California Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	That NSX-R style hood looks OK, but I'd prefer one without the raised lip because 1) it adds unnecessary drag and 2) it doesn't fit in with 2 styling (it looks more at home on a Honda with their more angular appearance). Don't ban me from the composites topic just for asking, but...for very small production runs (less than 100) might aluminum not be a better material? You still save a lot of weight over the steel tabletop, especially with the vent structure which allows thin material to make a solid structure. Of course it doesn't look as cool, so it depends on how much money the carbon look (and about two pounds) are worth to you...

06-21-2007, 06:30 PM	#22 (permalink)
turboguy Resident Composites Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 877 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	A small run of something like that in aluminum would be much more costly than carbon or fg. To make a nice smooth hood, it has to be stamped. The top side , middle, and the lower skeleton. The costs that go into making the dies is unfathomable for something with a small production run. For something like a hood, a die set could cost in upwards of $10 - 20k or more depending on complexity of the whole thing. A good set of molds can be made for $2 - 4K. Materials cost slightly more for cf vs. alum, but the tooling is much cheaper. Fees for using a press capable of supporting dies of this size isn't cheap either.

06-21-2007, 08:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
slo-two Do the Math. Then Drive. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central California Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	OK, I stand corrected...thanks for the info. I was assuming there was a feasible method of roll 'n weld etc., but if that's not feasible, then composites would seem the only viable way. BTW, is there a practical way to make one-off parts? For example, a simple hood or sunroof. The only way I know of, though it hardly seems especially light or stiff, would be composites over a formed wooden structure. Which might require a boat license...