Derrick B.

Very cool Chris! Is the CF hard to work with? Is stuff like this something one could do at home, or are more extensive tools needed?

chris walrod

Derrick,

Laminating c/f is not that difficult really, just there are many many methods which depend on what type of laminating you are doing, like wet layup, prepreg, resin transfer, hot melt, VAARTA etc.

The key is tooling (mold) surface quality and part complexity.

In a nutshell, you lay down fabric impregnated with resin onto or into a tool or mold, followed by using a vacuum bag to apply pressure (from vaccum) for fabric compaction. Higher end composites use vaccum bagging, heat and pressure from an autoclave.

I'll have to dig up a picture of our autoclave at work to give an example. One does get really spoiled having all the good stuff at work and have to come home and do the 'backyard' project like what I am doing without an oven, or autoclave. I do have a vacuum pump though

Mark in Hermosa

Pretty good, Chris.

Now why don't you fabricate something useful for me? Let's say a Carbon Fiber belly? That'll improve my times.

DJF1

Hey! I need one too!!!

Great job Chris...