Anyone ever make large carbon fiber parts?
 

Got an idea about making some big parts, doors, fenders, etc., but I'd like to chat with someone who has done it to get some ideas.... or to be talked out of it.... :rolleyes: Anyone?

long time ago, made a mold, laid the carbon down, then the kevlar plus the vaccume bag and bingo!

Kevin did you try Doug at 3G Services. He did Nemesis and Jonhson's Cuda

Good idea.. I need to talk with someone about it.

Anvil
 

Try Matt at Anvil too...

I know a guy that makes all the racing bodys for Corvette if you need his info I will dig it up and get it to you send me a PM if intersted.

Thanks guys, all great suggestions. I'm thinking about doing a how-to video on carbon fiber parts, with the assumption that it's probably something interesting to try, but most people won't want to invest the time and costs in materials and equipment to actually make something useful. We'll probably prove it's best to leave it to the pros for high-quality parts with killer fit and finish. I'm just curious about it.

It sounds good. I have discussed with some of my friends. They said its ok.

I made the body, seat, floor and side pods for the Formula SAE car last year at my university. Its very time and labor intensive. I mad the plugs at school then we went to kenny's components in morrisville NC he told us what to do to make the female molds and let us use his shop and materials we still had to do all the work. After the females were made we polished and repaired any imperfections in the mold. After that we were able to make the final parts. We uses prepreg since it was available to us it easy and cleaner to work with but much more expensive. It needs to be refrigerated when stored it wont cure without be put in and oven or autoclave, but makes the strongest and the best looking parts. I am know expert in carbon fiber construction but we plane to build a carbon fiber monocoque chassis in 2010 so I should know quite a bit about carbon sandwich panels after we get done with that. Its very net stuff and can have awesome engineering applications

These guys make "some" cf stuff:

http://www.paganiautomobili.it/

I got to visit their factory last year and got to see the whole process 1st hand. Simply amazing stuff! :cool: