Carbon Fibre bits
06-12-02, 10:20 PM
#1
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Carbon Fibre bits
A mate of mine works near a Carbon Fibre molding place. The make virtually anything from carbon fibre or carbon Kevlar!
So now the question...what bits can we do??
Centre console bits, stereo surround, gauge cluster...any other ideas? Its good my interior is in pieces at the moment, migh be able to fire a bit off and see what it would cost to get some done!
Ideas?
So now the question...what bits can we do??
Centre console bits, stereo surround, gauge cluster...any other ideas? Its good my interior is in pieces at the moment, migh be able to fire a bit off and see what it would cost to get some done!
Ideas?
06-12-02, 10:25 PM
#2
The AUTO DOCTOR
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id like a top pannel for the rad. ...like the 2nd and 3rd gens. 
and the center console parts...radio surround, shifter surround, the switch plate ...a cluster cover would look cool also
and the center console parts...radio surround, shifter surround, the switch plate ...a cluster cover would look cool also
06-12-02, 10:29 PM
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I want to purchase a carbon fibre dash kit for a 1st gen, i can send you the interior parts i want coated as i have extras... please get a price on this... please please please.
cheers'
cheers'
06-12-02, 10:31 PM
#4
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Radiator cover...nice one 
Would look pretty good in the engine bay!
The centre console bits I can look into, like the switch panel for the electric windows etc, right?
What do you mean cluster cover though?
Would look pretty good in the engine bay! The centre console bits I can look into, like the switch panel for the electric windows etc, right?
What do you mean cluster cover though?
06-12-02, 10:39 PM
#6
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yea i think the rad cover would look SWEET with my alm. rad. cluster cover for the turn switchs, cruise control, wiper and such on the stering wheel cluster cover... know what i mean now? and yes the power window shitch pannel... but i have a miata cup holder so i dont need 1
cluster cover for the turn switchs, cruise control, wiper and such on the stering wheel cluster cover... know what i mean now? and yes the power window shitch pannel... but i have a miata cup holder so i dont need 1
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06-12-02, 10:43 PM
#8
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h okay, I know the bit now. On Aussie cars we have a left and a right section that goes right around the steering column, US cars got the same?
Carbon fibre hood....hhhmmmm Will see what I can do!
Carbon fibre hood....hhhmmmm
Will see what I can do!
06-12-02, 11:27 PM
#14
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Carbon fibre is woven into a cloth in a simular process to fibreglass, then wetted out with a resin. There are various levels of specifications, but as general indication you are talking 20 times the cost of fibreglass.
Like fibreglass, its easy to lay-up for relatively flat panels and parts, or threading round a shape for such as a yacht mast. Its difficult to use for complex parts without a good mold and vacuum bagging, thus small interior parts will be extremely costly and offer only a marginal weight saving. If you want a fibreglass look, then matt black overcoated in gloss is great. What is often thought of as the carbonfibre look is just the cloth weave showing through when little resin is used to save a little weight when there is low load. The weight saving on a Gen 1 RX-7 interior would be that of a can of beer for the price of three cars!
My yacht is built from carbon fibre over a balsa core- real light! Total weigh, excluding keel, of 320 lbs on a 25' boat. But then its painted white because of the adverse impact of the sun.
Like fibreglass, its easy to lay-up for relatively flat panels and parts, or threading round a shape for such as a yacht mast. Its difficult to use for complex parts without a good mold and vacuum bagging, thus small interior parts will be extremely costly and offer only a marginal weight saving. If you want a fibreglass look, then matt black overcoated in gloss is great. What is often thought of as the carbonfibre look is just the cloth weave showing through when little resin is used to save a little weight when there is low load. The weight saving on a Gen 1 RX-7 interior would be that of a can of beer for the price of three cars!
My yacht is built from carbon fibre over a balsa core- real light! Total weigh, excluding keel, of 320 lbs on a 25' boat. But then its painted white because of the adverse impact of the sun.
06-13-02, 12:04 AM
#16
This is a regular "Blank" wall receptacle cover.
The process is called Photo-Lithographic. They take the part and dip it into a weave pattern resting on top of the solution, and dip it straight down. Then, they clear coat it. Right Next to REAL Carbon Fiber, you cannot tell the difference until you smack it to see it's density.
I will be doing Much of my interior this way, stereo surround, Door handle surrounds, power window switch surrounds, Dash cluster surrounds, etc.
The new gauges and stereo will all be that brushed aluminum look of that Gauge in the picture.
The process isn't cheap, about 80 cents per square inch, and it does by overall dimensions. So if it is a hollow piece (just the edges) you will pay for the whole thing like if it was a solid piece.
When mine is completed to my satisfaction, I will have the owner of the company sell "templates" for the gauge setup on the 84/85's and then look into more parts.
By the way, this is EXACTLY how "fake" wood trim is done. They usually work for dealers with the CF look, and in Wood Trim for the large yachts. Honestly, the pictures do not do it justice.
The process is called Photo-Lithographic. They take the part and dip it into a weave pattern resting on top of the solution, and dip it straight down. Then, they clear coat it. Right Next to REAL Carbon Fiber, you cannot tell the difference until you smack it to see it's density.
I will be doing Much of my interior this way, stereo surround, Door handle surrounds, power window switch surrounds, Dash cluster surrounds, etc.
The new gauges and stereo will all be that brushed aluminum look of that Gauge in the picture.
The process isn't cheap, about 80 cents per square inch, and it does by overall dimensions. So if it is a hollow piece (just the edges) you will pay for the whole thing like if it was a solid piece.
When mine is completed to my satisfaction, I will have the owner of the company sell "templates" for the gauge setup on the 84/85's and then look into more parts.
By the way, this is EXACTLY how "fake" wood trim is done. They usually work for dealers with the CF look, and in Wood Trim for the large yachts. Honestly, the pictures do not do it justice.
Last edited by Directfreak; 06-13-02 at 12:21 AM.
06-13-02, 12:11 AM
#17
Rotary Enthusiast
How about a cold air box. It would look good next to the radiator cover.
I think the bonnet is a good idea, maybe with a backwards facing vent towards the rear for heat extraction, and a built in vent for the air filter (or airbox).
Later.
I think the bonnet is a good idea, maybe with a backwards facing vent towards the rear for heat extraction, and a built in vent for the air filter (or airbox).
Later.
06-13-02, 12:34 AM
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I just want the look of carbon fibre inside my car. I have the parts i need coated or done up or whatever, so if anyone can vacuum bag em or do the drop in cover fake look at me i'm pretend carbon fibre coating, then gimme a shout for i am veeerrrryyyy interested!
cheers'
cheers'
06-13-02, 12:55 AM
#21
Originally posted by AJC13B
Yeah I would much prefer the look of carbon like what DirectFreak has!! Details dammit!
Yeah I would much prefer the look of carbon like what DirectFreak has!! Details dammit!
I re-edited my post with more details. Go to the local yacht place, and find out who makes the "fake wood trim" That's really it. It goes by several names, but it is known as Photo-Lithographic process. Either there or the Car Dealers who make CF Look. The Toyota Matrix cars sold here have it as a Dealer option! (Looks AWESOME).
The actual film is from 3M, and there are dozens of different designs. Even colored Carbon Fiber (Red, Blue, etc.) They all look nice.
The one I am getting is even more realistic than the pictured one, but I left it with the shop so he could make sure he put the right one on the parts from my "organ donor". It takes a couple of weeks to do it as well.
06-13-02, 07:38 AM
#22
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That stuff looks sweet, but the real deal would be even better if the price is the same!
Like I sid we will make enquiries and get back tio everyone!
Like I sid we will make enquiries and get back tio everyone!
06-13-02, 10:29 AM
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I have put a thread out on this before but I am just reminding, I have hoods, headlight lids, and the valance between the headlights being made right now. The moulds are very close to being done. I am having the first parts made out of fiberglass for my race car first then I will be having carbon parts made after that.
Hood: Fiberglass $250 range carbon $350 range
headlights: Fiberglass $40 range carbon $75 range
valance: Fiberglass $100 range carbon $150 range.
It takes a lot of time when you dont do this for a living! Right now I am trying to come up with a way to mount the hood on the hinges, any ideas? You will have to use hood pins on latching the hood down, I am not going to mess with trying to make the factory latch work.
Check out my dash
http://members.cardomain.com/7heaven
Hood: Fiberglass $250 range carbon $350 range
headlights: Fiberglass $40 range carbon $75 range
valance: Fiberglass $100 range carbon $150 range.
It takes a lot of time when you dont do this for a living! Right now I am trying to come up with a way to mount the hood on the hinges, any ideas? You will have to use hood pins on latching the hood down, I am not going to mess with trying to make the factory latch work.
Check out my dash
http://members.cardomain.com/7heaven
06-13-02, 02:11 PM
#25
Whats the big deal with carbon fiber, I know its light, but I dont get the different color hoods on the Honda's around here I think it looks kinda dumm Must just be me, but dash panels look really sweet provided you do all of it like that...
Must just be me, but dash panels look really sweet provided you do all of it like that...