Hey guys, I'm wanting to make a few parts out of carbon fiber and need to know where is the best place to buy a few sheets of it??? Are there different grades or qualities??? If so what should i get???

STEPHEN

 

i think i saw some at tap plastics last time i was in the store. that might be a good place to start if they have one around you...

 

I am pretty sure that you have to pressure cook it at a very high temp in a vacuum. Do you have the tools to do that?

-Charlie

 

Check out some fabrication or aircraft material shop in the yellow pages. The fabric isn't too expensive. Get some pre mixed resin as well. It's hard to come up with the right mixture.

You just make the mold, pure in the resin I think. The bottom should be smooth with the mold. The top side may not be as nice unless you have a mold on the top as well.

 

and get a auto-clave

 

You can get premade flat sheets in various thicknesses. Real stiff stuff, and if all you are making are structural parts and brackest and the shapes arent too complex it'll be fine. I think carbontrix sell it, as well as other composite and plastics manufacturers. I used to use it to make custom R/C car chassis back in the day.

Beware: it sands and grinds easily (like w/ cutting wheels, dremels, and such) but doesn't saw or drill easily. Any drill bits you use will be dull as an eraser head after just a few holes. Tears up machining bits too, so you may not be very popular w/ your machinist after a couple projects. The dusty is nasty too, wear a mask. Good luck

 

how wide do you need them? I have some spare that I wouldn't mind giving to you

PM me

 

Well, i'd prob need quite a bit. I'd say about 13" wide but like 10 feet long. Would that be an expensive sheet? I have no idea how expensive the stuff is.

I'm wanting to redo my custom alum air duct for my IC in carbon fiber (the duct is much smaller than stock due to the IC leaning forward) as well as a divider to go between my intake and radiator.

I've heard there are different grades of carbon fiber and some can be real expensive. I think I'd also want the pre mixed resin too. How much you think all that would cost?

STEPHEN

 

Just like fiberglass it comes in different weights like 5.0oz or 5.6oz etc, and you can get it in uni-directional, or multi-directional (zigzag pattern). If you're trying to mold object with multiple curves it can be a real pain in the ***. As mentioned you'll need to first make a mold of the object you wanna make. Then you'll also need a vacuum bag to form the CF over the mold. OR you could take a slower approach and build up the part by layering thin strips of CF, just like you would with paper mache (sp?). But the down side of this second method is that the surface will not be as cosmetically pleasing. If you're making a part that'll be exposed to sunlight like a dash kit or panels, you might wanna use a UV Absorber although I believe you can get away with just using a waxed gelcoat for a finish.


Jason