Composite Materials How complicated is it to use carbon fiber?

Scherm · 01-01-2009, 04:15 PM

I wanted to know if anyone on here makes their own carbon fiber toys. What goes into making a spoiler, hood, etc... or even a key fob? Don't you need to bake the carbon fiber or something like that? How much does it cost, and how hard is stuff to make?

edit: I just saw the parked thread on how to carbon fiber, so this thread might have been made useless...

Jackstand Queen · 01-02-2009, 06:52 PM

Properly made Carbon Fiber items just need a heated oven chamber which can be hermetically sealed and a vacuum pump attached to remove excess atmosphere. Jet fighters and supercars rate this grade of carbon fiber.

Useless clots like me could throw some resin and carbon cloth together and make something that looks presentable. But it wouldn't be as strong as if done properly.

turboguy · 01-10-2009, 06:16 PM

Almost none of the carbon fiber anyone sees is done in an autoclave. That is only really beneficial for pre-preg fabrics. I've only used pre-preg at work and haven't even seen it for sale commercially. If you use a good two part epoxy resin with a medium to slow cure time (the faster it is, the more brittle, but the slower, the more cance of it slipping in the mold and developing tiny voids and microfractures.) Al you really need to make a grae A part is good resin (I use West Systems), A vacuum pump that will pull at least 29 in/hg continually, vacuum bagging supplies, and a good, non forced air, heat source. I use a big electric blanket from walmart for bigger projects and I have a small infared indirect heater for smaller projects.

Malem · 01-23-2009, 06:47 PM

iv made tons of ****, shrouds, interior pieces you name it iv made it... practice is what makes perfect.. and yes you need peelply, vaccum pump lots of little tricks of the trade to make **** perfectly..

deucegirl03 · 01-23-2009, 07:53 PM

dude Malem that is rad! i want to learn how to work with composites because i would love to be able to make my own pieces...

Malem · 01-24-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deucegirl03

dude Malem that is rad! i want to learn how to work with composites because i would love to be able to make my own pieces...

ill post some pics!!

Louis · 12-25-2009, 01:49 PM

I have built an entire catamaran out of carbon fiber. It is almost the same as fiberglass. I used a technique called wet-layup. It is the most basic way. Vaccum bags help pull resin out of the laminate, which makes the finnished product lighter while having the same strength. It is not neccesary, especially for beginning your first composite parts. With wet-layup, either apply the carbon cloth onto the form and spread resin onto it with a squegee, untill it is completely saturated with resin. You may have to work out any air bubbles. The other way is to wet the carbon cloth on a seperate surface, then pick it up and apply it to the mold (using gloves). It is important to work out any air bubbles; they really cause weakness in your finnished part. As far as what kind of carbon cloth to use, 5.6 oz is most popular.

GENESIS · 08-17-2010, 04:17 AM

Anybody tried making dry CF doors? that would be a good weight loss although its not safe unless you have a cage.Has a CF sunroof been done before?

328FTW · 08-17-2010, 04:57 AM

I don't think you can save much from the doors I've gutted mine and they weigh nothing it is the glass and rails in them that weighs heaps plus you have never wanted metal doors so much as when you get t-boned I got hit hard enough to tear the steel doors and even with a cage it offered a bit of protection from things entering the car enough for me to keep driving with crotch ventilation.

01-01-2009, 04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scherm mad skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	How complicated is it to use carbon fiber? I wanted to know if anyone on here makes their own carbon fiber toys. What goes into making a spoiler, hood, etc... or even a key fob? Don't you need to bake the carbon fiber or something like that? How much does it cost, and how hard is stuff to make? edit: I just saw the parked thread on how to carbon fiber, so this thread might have been made useless... Last edited by Scherm; 01-01-2009 at 04:21 PM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-02-2009, 06:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Properly made Carbon Fiber items just need a heated oven chamber which can be hermetically sealed and a vacuum pump attached to remove excess atmosphere. Jet fighters and supercars rate this grade of carbon fiber. Useless clots like me could throw some resin and carbon cloth together and make something that looks presentable. But it wouldn't be as strong as if done properly.

01-10-2009, 06:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
turboguy Resident Composites Guy Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 948 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Almost none of the carbon fiber anyone sees is done in an autoclave. That is only really beneficial for pre-preg fabrics. I've only used pre-preg at work and haven't even seen it for sale commercially. If you use a good two part epoxy resin with a medium to slow cure time (the faster it is, the more brittle, but the slower, the more cance of it slipping in the mold and developing tiny voids and microfractures.) Al you really need to make a grae A part is good resin (I use West Systems), A vacuum pump that will pull at least 29 in/hg continually, vacuum bagging supplies, and a good, non forced air, heat source. I use a big electric blanket from walmart for bigger projects and I have a small infared indirect heater for smaller projects.

01-23-2009, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Malem Some Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 76 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	iv made tons of **, shrouds, interior pieces you name it iv made it... practice is what makes perfect.. and yes you need peelply, vaccum pump lots of little tricks of the trade to make ** perfectly..

01-23-2009, 07:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
deucegirl03 Gearhead son! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 723 Thanks: 35 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	dude Malem that is rad! i want to learn how to work with composites because i would love to be able to make my own pieces...

12-25-2009, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Louis No Skills Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 15 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have built an entire catamaran out of carbon fiber. It is almost the same as fiberglass. I used a technique called wet-layup. It is the most basic way. Vaccum bags help pull resin out of the laminate, which makes the finnished product lighter while having the same strength. It is not neccesary, especially for beginning your first composite parts. With wet-layup, either apply the carbon cloth onto the form and spread resin onto it with a squegee, untill it is completely saturated with resin. You may have to work out any air bubbles. The other way is to wet the carbon cloth on a seperate surface, then pick it up and apply it to the mold (using gloves). It is important to work out any air bubbles; they really cause weakness in your finnished part. As far as what kind of carbon cloth to use, 5.6 oz is most popular.

08-17-2010, 04:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
GENESIS Gate keeper of Redwood rd Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: dublin,ca Posts: 778 Thanks: 4 Thanked 23 Times in 24 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Anybody tried making dry CF doors? that would be a good weight loss although its not safe unless you have a cage.Has a CF sunroof been done before?

08-17-2010, 04:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I don't think you can save much from the doors I've gutted mine and they weigh nothing it is the glass and rails in them that weighs heaps plus you have never wanted metal doors so much as when you get t-boned I got hit hard enough to tear the steel doors and even with a cage it offered a bit of protection from things entering the car enough for me to keep driving with crotch ventilation.