Carbon Fibre Fabrication.........

VeetyR · Post by **VeetyR** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:48 pm

Hi guys, i dont know if any here can help me but to cut a long story short, I really miss doing stuff with my hands( ooh errr keep it clean

).

Seriously tho, I really wanna learn a new skill and wouldnt mind trying my hand at fabricating some carbon fibre bits n pieces. I have a workshop available for me to use for this new "hobby". But dont really know where to start and was wondering if anyone here had tried or could give me some pointers with regards to suppliers, techniques and cost etc

Its not something I expect to get rich on or anything but it would certainly be very cool to be able to make panels etc.

And of course if i got good at it you could all have yummy bits at cost price

Let me know if you got any info anyways.

Thx VeetyR ( john'o )

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:34 pm

hey John,

A friend of mine fabs carbon fibre parts for some shipping company (no he cant do bike stuff sadly) but from what i gather the techniques arnt very hard to learn, theres just lots of practice getting good results!

If you do this, would you be up for blogging it on here? i would be really interested to follow your progress?

Good luck with it!

VeetyR · Post by **VeetyR** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:54 pm

yeah i dont see why i couldnt leave a few posts on the progress and wot not.

Just need to get some info first...perhaps a couple of books on moulding techniques and the fabrication processes, some materials and see wot cracks.

We shall see

RedStormV · Post by **RedStormV** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:33 pm

Hi,

Hope your workshop is pretty well kitted out.

BarryH is looking into same sort of thing at moment.

From what I know, you will need good source of vacuum - to hold CF tight to mould.

Probably the most difficult thing is the Autoclave you'll need to cure / harden it! Pricey!!

other than that it's pretty similar to fibre glass construction.

HTH

Graeme.

Stormin Ben · Post by **Stormin Ben** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:39 pm

Autoclave??
Pish, you can try doing it in this

Probably best waiting til the missus is out though

RedStormV · Post by **RedStormV** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:41 pm

LOL

OK if you're doing farings for a Minichamps Ben!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:03 am

Check this out for info:

Also seen a very good guide a guy did making carbon air scoops for his V-Max using a vaccuum bag that plugs into your hoover and a domestic oven, but sadly, I can't find it anymore. Might be worth half an hour of googling.

Also, in honour of carbon fabrication and I fancied doing some photoshopping, here's my carbonated Storm:

VeetyR · Post by **VeetyR** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:32 am

It is a pretty well kitted workshop and will prob have most of the stuff i need.( i think

)

As for the autoclave , you are right. I do not have one of these. I do have an oven tho

, and a kiln with variable temp that can get very very hot indeed.

That said i am not looking to jump in and do big items straight away, even complex shapes and stuff may be too much to begin with.

Was thinking to try out small flatter items to start with. yoke covers, exhaust hangers etc, not only will these be easier to make but they will use less material as i am learning. Once i have got the finish right i will then look at moulding chaingards, huggers and panels etc.

I really dont know how it will turn out but it will be fun giving it a crack anyways

VeetyR · Post by **VeetyR** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:53 am

Kitch wrote:Check this out for info:

Also seen a very good guide a guy did making carbon air scoops for his V-Max using a vaccuum bag that plugs into your hoover and a domestic oven, but sadly, I can't find it anymore. Might be worth half an hour of googling.

Also, in honour of carbon fabrication and I fancied doing some photoshopping, here's my carbonated Storm:

/\/\/\/\

I must say that was interesting.....no autoclaving going on there

.....doesnt look too difficult really and i am sure we have an air compressor that works in reverse to create a vaccum.... bagging looks tricky tho.

Nice find Kitch

VeetyR · Post by **VeetyR** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:33 pm

Ok did some digging and found this tygaboy( chris ) and picked his brain about a few bits ... this is what he sent me.

Hi John,
Welcome to the wonderful world of unlimited ways to spend money making parts you could buy for less!
As far as getting started on the kinds of parts you're talking about, you don't need anything fancy. I'd recommend a couple things.
Check out http://www.fiberglast.com. They have a nice series of instructional DVDs.
Take a look at http://www.westsystem.com/
This is the supplier I use for my resin and hardener. Check the tab called "Using West System Epoxy". You'll see links to instructional publications and videos.
There are also any number of books. Try "Successful Composite Techniques" by Keith Noakes.
And your local supplier should be able to point you at other info.

In the end, I've found that there's no substitute for experience. Get yourself an overview or a couple of these videos and you'll be all set to start.
Best of luck with your projects.

Chris

..........................................................................................................

this guy is spot on ... have a look what he did with this sv tank.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forum ... p?t=145975

john'o

KarlosVTR · Post by **KarlosVTR** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:19 pm

yeah was just gonna suggest the sv tank guy

used a hoover or something and an oven

theres no real need to bake it unless you are in a hurry

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:50 pm

VeetyR I have done quite a bit of Carbon/Kevlar fabrication as I work on Aeroplanes. The basic cloth is pretty expensive and the Matrix (Araldite) that you use to form the panels is pretty expensive also. The basic procedure is simple.
1. Make a mould
2. Lay out your plies (sheets of whatever carbon/fibreglass) in the mould making the pattern you require ie criss cross, square (there are formulae for getting strong panels in various axis)
3. Roll in your Matrix on each ply as you lay up.
4. Create a vacuum bag around your model and evacuate the air.
5. Keep a constant temp on the model throughout the curing process.
6. Remove bag and realise you have incorporated thousands of air bubbles and throw away model

.
Seriously it is easy but also easy to mess up with expensive raw materials, and you really need a forced air environment if you are to rub down or sand. Carbon is ingested by the body and not repelled, the body accepts it without kicking off so causes major problems over long exposure periods. (sorry my explanation is v basic but it would bore the crap out of you if I told all)

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:47 am

Beamish wrote:VeetyR I have done quite a bit of Carbon/Kevlar fabrication as I work on Aeroplanes.

So... limited run Carbon FireStorm bodywork done on the sly at work then?

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:55 am

Kitch wrote:
Beamish wrote:VeetyR I have done quite a bit of Carbon/Kevlar fabrication as I work on Aeroplanes.
So... limited run Carbon FireStorm bodywork done on the sly at work then?

Used to do some work on the Harrier but now moved onto Typhoon, more systems fault diagnosis no structural repair. Its pretty specialised and would not want to stick some of my attempts on my pristine Red beauty! The hugger that was fitted to my Bandit looked bloody awful unless you looked from 20 yrds away. Good luck to VeetyR, have a go mate, it is quite easy to make something,its just that its HARD to make something of quality.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:31 am

Beamish wrote:Used to do some work on the Harrier but now moved onto Typhoon, more systems fault diagnosis no structural repair.

Cool, I did CAD for Tornado bits at GEC Marconi briefly and BAE has a big place just up the road where they do this stuff too.