Not trying to derail this thread, but I have a quesiton on CF cutting. I have never seen anyone speaking positive or negative on waterjetting of CF. Do you have any knowledge on this? Or laser cutting of it (might not be able to get a laser strong enough).

They are conversations on these topics below:

Laser cut carbon fiber?

Waterjet cutting carbon fiber

With the right equipment, both methods return excellent results.

Check out the links that ANGRY-ALIEN posted above.

Widetracs
 

Hmmm... it's been some time since my last update on the build... I have been trying to work out designs for a new motor/cd mount to facility my 1520 beast and it has delayed the entire project,
but for now I'll make a small update... Although I've had great success with the proline control arms, I recently decided to employ a set of UE Widetrac arms... it's been a long time dream to own
a set of UE suspension arms (I still think UE parts though well designed and machined are little overpriced) and when I saw this set on ebay going for a 'reasonable' price, I didn't want to pass on
the opportunity. They were pre-owned and well used...

The the surface was well polished, but with use tiny holes were developed all over the rear arms... the lower undersides rear/front also suffered (did I mention these were well used?)... there was
some evidence of the arms making contact with the output cups... So some clean up was required before assemble and installation. I started the clean up with some wet 400 grip sand paper to rid the
surface of most of the holes and scratch marks... then I graduated to a 600 grit to smooth things out. Now, I'm not a big fan of super polished aluminum... So I used some steel whool and rubbed the
arms in one direction and finished it with Scotch Brite to achieve a 'brushed aluminum' effect... I think they turned out quite well... see pics below.



http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S6...2/DSC_3119.jpg
UE Widetrac Control Arms


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S6...2/DSC_3121.jpg
The surface finish after sanding and good Scotch Brite rub


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S6...2/DSC_3125.jpg
This pic illustrates the result of the arm making contact with an output cup


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S6...2/DSC_3135.jpg
UE Widetrac Control Arms, UE Monoblock, FLM Bulks and UE Knucklehead shock towers


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S6...2/DSC_3141.jpg



More update coming... 'Stay tuned'


Alien

Looking good...UE Widetracks, UE Monoblock, UE Knucklehead Shock Tower Kit, UE Ultralites (with 6 ot 8-spiders), HCR Titanium Skids, Diemaker dave Wing-Mount, FLM Bulkheads...nice!

Oh, if you decide you want the radically changed suspension geometry of the UE EXT Suspension (handles MUCH better), I have a complete kit, so just let me know...

Thanks man :yes:, but the diffs are actually Hot Bodies Lightnings... lots more work left before I'm satisfied.

Yeah... the set up does not have the geometry upgrade and 'bump steer fix'... I got a previous offer, but It wasn't in my budget, therefore I had to turn it down...
So since they'll be used for mostly bashing and very light racing, the Widetracs will do for now...

Alien

great looking build. cant wait to see it all together. i have done a lot of builds with carbon and had to learn the same things. the CNC left burrs that i had to sand off. and the best way to make countersinks is to use a dremel stone/sanding bit and grind at an angle and move around in a circular motion. obviously you already figured this out. i have tried to get others out there to tell me the best way to cut carbon but they are not willing to share. i have tried lazer, CNC, and water jet and so far the best cuts still come from my dremel tool.

The tool isn't as important as the bit when cutting/milling carbon-fiber. You need high-quality carbide bits if you want perfect results. My carbide countersink makes perfect countersunk holes in carbon-fiber, and it has already made hundreds...in carbon-fiber, 6061 & 7075 aluminum, stainless-steel, and even steel.

Thanks man... I have some photo updates coming... in regards to cutting carbon on a CNC... I strongly believe if the operators of these machines are using higher RPMs
on the cutting tools with a slower X/Y movement over the material, the cuts might be a little cleaner (thus being free of burs)... Yah... I do prefer using a grinding tool for
countersinks...

Alien

i have carbide bits for my dremel but my machinist did not have carbide bits. i looked online and found several different types for CNCs. was not sure what type to buy. any recommendations on carbide bits?

I've seen that 'up spiral' bits leave a perfect finish on lexan/ acrylic, not sure how they would work for CF though.

Maybe you can have him look at the bits below built specifically for carbon fiber:

http://img.directindustry.com/images...ber-401331.jpg
"Milling cutter for carbon fiber"



http://www.mmsonline.com/image.ashx?....jpg&width=125
"Solid Carbide Carbon Graphite Cutter"



Base on the designs above, I think you will have to look for a tool that really grinds away the material to leave a clean 'cut'... I am also assuming that these tools are spon at a high rate too.
If I find any more, I will post them.:yes:


Alien

Yep, those are the new cross-cut multi-flute end-mills made specifically for different grades of CF, and they are for high-speed mills. They will work in lower-speed mills, such as home drill-presses and the like if you go slow, but will work great in high-speed routers if you don't have a true mill or CNC mill!

Continuing with my updates on the rebuild... I have manged to finish my 'homemade' CD/motor mount... It was my first attempt on milling with an actual mill... a little different
from sticking a milling bit in dremel and hacking away on the material... the finish wasn't perfect, but i'm sure to get more function than form with this mount... so finished the surface
with a file, sandpaper and scotch brite. got it all bolted up together and feels great... it's a lot more sturdy than my previous attempts... there is no play
at all from the mount... photos of the mount layout below.


I also got the suspension all mounted up... I love the look of these Widetracs... feels a lot smother that the prolines and offers a few more setup options... see the photos below.



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4611.jpg
UE Widetrac Control Arms, FLM Bulks, UE Super Shocks and UE Knucklehead shock towers


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4613.jpg



http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4599.jpg
My new homemade CD/Motor mount with a OFNA Spider center diff and CC 1520 attached


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4605.jpg
Oops!! I accidentally cut the grub screw access slot on the wrong side


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4608.jpg



http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4653.jpg
Cutting the upper plate for the CD with a dremel cutoff wheel


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4655.jpg



http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4663.jpg
Upper plate finished and mount mounted


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4666.jpg

more to come...

MAN! Maybe I should say MON I love this build! Aren't you Jamican? You're the best Alien. You aren't really going to run those extenders now are you?

Some more photos from the rebuild...



http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4667.jpg



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4668.jpg



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4678.jpg



New body - Proline Crowd Pleazer 2.0 'modified'



http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S3...0/DSC_2624.jpg



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S8...0/DSC_3492.jpg



http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S8...0/DSC_3497.jpg
Some vents cut in the rear of the body to help air flow


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S8...0/DSC_3500.jpg



http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S8...0/DSC_3506.jpg



http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S8...0/DSC_3502.jpg


Alien

Yeh Man... born and grown in Jamaica :yes:... thanks for the compliments dude... the extensions have been used on the truck from beginning build with no issues...
I have considered removing them, but i will leave them on there for a while longer.

Alien

Yeh MON! We be JAMMIN! ;) Stunning, just like rest of the truck! Wheel base of 14.5 right? That body fits the FLM/mono combo well, as it did for mine.

Yep!! I used the shorter body so that I would have some clearance between the back of the shell and the wing... I hate when slots have to be hacked into the body to facilitate the wing stays...

Oh yeah! I see that now. Actually I have the long 2.0. along with those three other bodies that fit, they all had to be cut.

Yep... I had to do it with the previous body... needless to say, I did not like it.

http://www.myemoticons.com/avatars/i...boys/joint.jpg

Seriously nice work there dude, that motor mount shouldnt be flexing much any time soon... :mdr:

Thanks Neil... I hope it holds together... been wanting to jump the truck for a while now... so any flex would just make for really uncomfortable landings... :lol:... i hope to get some vids soon...
I'll still be running on 5s... more than enough power for me.

Alien

It's...it's...it's...it's...it's...damn I don't remember what I wanted to say :lol:

Seriously, this alu/carbon maxx looks awesome !! And good choice for the body, love it.

Is the motor well aligned with the CF plate ? (pic angle confusion I guess).

Thanks man... Yep... I think the angle of the shot is causing the illusion of misalignment...

Wow, look at all that shiny stuff :yes:
Looking good Alien

Hey bushboy... thanks man... it's ready to take on that G4 of yours again... are you ready for Coney Park wars?:lol:

Awesome truck, seriously...I love it!

The one thing I have to say, though, is you desperately need a new pinion...yours is finished!

yep... been going through quite few of them... will be ordering some news one from Mike soon... I hope the hardening issues have been resolved.


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4vPm5E8J5HA/S_...0/DSC_4604.jpg

Looks like your mesh might not be exactly right...what method do you use to set it?

Hi Chad... the mesh is indeed correct... if you do a search you will find that a few users have experienced premature/rapid deterioration of the newer 'lightened' pinions...
I think it related to the hardening processed used by the persons making the pinions for Mike. I have the older design in larger tooth counts and they are doing much better...


Alien

Nice looking ride!

Thanks for the compliment man... ahm no... I don't know... this is also not the thread for that...

thanks
Alien

That pinion looks very much like the $3 Inturdy ones. :whip:

:lol:... hmmm... interesting, do you have a link to these pinions?

I run Mike's pinions and none of them are milled out like that, but I have never run a "lightened" pinion of Mike's. I think since the milled pocket goes so deep into the pinion, it is letting the pinion "squash" resulting in messed up mesh and torn up pinions...maybe, I don't know.

It seems inturdy have changed their pinions too. Their website is different since I was there last.

Hi Chad, have a look at the below:

How to keep pinion from falling off?

I've never had a pinion fall off.