Custom RC8T carbon fiber chassis question.

[MetalMan]

But to lay carbon fiber you at least need a strong vacuum pump, and even better would be an autoclave. A vacuum pump wouldn't be too hard to come by, but then other materials would be needed - vacuum bag material, thick rubber adhesive tape to seal the bag, mylar, wax for the mylar, and of course the carbon fiber cloth and epoxy resin. Two identical pieces of aluminum or some other metal with the kickup angle would be placed on both sides of the carbon fiber cloth, and clamped together to make the desired shape.

Mr Constructor in Germany has done a lot of 7075/carbon fiber integration. I will try to find his website and post it later after I get home from work.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by MetalMan

But to lay carbon fiber you at least need a strong vacuum pump, and even better would be an autoclave. A vacuum pump wouldn't be too hard to come by, but then other materials would be needed - vacuum bag material, thick rubber adhesive tape to seal the bag, mylar, wax for the mylar, and of course the carbon fiber cloth and epoxy resin. Two identical pieces of aluminum or some other metal with the kickup angle would be placed on both sides of the carbon fiber cloth, and clamped together to make the desired shape.

Mr Constructor in Germany has done a lot of 7075/carbon fiber integration. I will try to find his website and post it later after I get home from work.

www.ace-cars.info

I've seen very good plates that were done with just glass, cf cloth, wax and some weights to put on top of the smooth glass surface. You can also try and make a 2 piece mold out of fiberglass with the kick up first and use that instead of the 2 chassis method.

[_paralyzed_]

the price on the matrix kit doesnt look bad, maybe just buy that

[Ryu James]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

the price on the matrix kit doesnt look bad, maybe just buy that

i need a TEkno RC shaped chassis, not the losi. also, i need to put the screw holes in myself. the matrix is already drilled out. but youre right, the matrix chassis looks nice.

[Ryu James]

Originally Posted by lutach

www.ace-cars.info

I've seen very good plates that were done with just glass, cf cloth, wax and some weights to put on top of the smooth glass surface. You can also try and make a 2 piece mold out of fiberglass with the kick up first and use that instead of the 2 chassis method.

i found this site.

http://www.hunterdogs.org/GeneralInf...COMPONENTS.pdf

it sounds possible but...hmm. where could i get all this? i would rather just hire someone to do the custom piece. you guys know anyone?

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Ryu James

i found this site.

http://www.hunterdogs.org/GeneralInf...COMPONENTS.pdf

it sounds possible but...hmm. where could i get all this? i would rather just hire someone to do the custom piece. you guys know anyone?

Good place to buy carbon fiber is ebay. I have a few other places, but the price per yard at them is around $30-40. I have bought plenty of carbon fiber on ebay and I haven't had the time to do any of the things I want to do with them.

[pb4ugo]

Originally Posted by MetalMan

But to lay carbon fiber you at least need a strong vacuum pump, and even better would be an autoclave. A vacuum pump wouldn't be too hard to come by, but then other materials would be needed - vacuum bag material, thick rubber adhesive tape to seal the bag, mylar, wax for the mylar, and of course the carbon fiber cloth and epoxy resin. Two identical pieces of aluminum or some other metal with the kickup angle would be placed on both sides of the carbon fiber cloth, and clamped together to make the desired shape.

Mr Constructor in Germany has done a lot of 7075/carbon fiber integration. I will try to find his website and post it later after I get home from work.

Using a FoodSaver for vacuum bagging CF works very well. FoodSavers can be bought brand new for $100 and at a yard sale for $10. Use a wood (for ease of shaping) form for the angle and finish it nicely with poly and mold release wax. Lay it up on top in quasi-iso orientation, use some peel ply and cotton batting on top for the excess resin and insert in double sealed FoodSaver bag. Draw the vacuum and double seal the other end. Surely not as good as pre-preg in an autoclave, but leaps and bounds better than a wet cure and only a shade behind a professional vacuum bagged set up.

[MetalMan]

Originally Posted by pb4ugo

Using a FoodSaver for vacuum bagging CF works very well. FoodSavers can be bought brand new for $100 and at a yard sale for $10. Use a wood (for ease of shaping) form for the angle and finish it nicely with poly and mold release wax. Lay it up on top in quasi-iso orientation, use some peel ply and cotton batting on top for the excess resin and insert in double sealed FoodSaver bag. Draw the vacuum and double seal the other end. Surely not as good as pre-preg in an autoclave, but leaps and bounds better than a wet cure and only a shade behind a professional vacuum bagged set up.

Man, thanks for the inspiration . Any future carbon-fiber chassis I make will be your fault . Granted it helps that I have laid carbon fiber and fiberglass before with great success, but with the FoodSaver idea this will enable me to do it at home.

I'm imagining laying a carbon fiber chassis with the desired front kick-up, built-in mud/dirt guards, and built-in battery holder. A mock-up chassis would be used that would already have these features, possibly made using 1/8" thick polycarbonate (which would be way too flexible to use as a chassis).

But to be realistic, if I (or anyone else) were to do this, there are some things I would like to know:
-what drill bit material or coating would be best for drilling? I have dulled standard high speed steel and TiN coated drill bits on softer composites than carbon fiber.
-What's the best way to cut/shape the piece after it's done curing? I would normally use my scroll saw, but those blades were made for wood and are dull after cutting only 3 inches of 1/8" CF.
-Which CF cloth to get? I've been looking here:
http://www.shopmaninc.com/carbonpage.html
The 11oz. two twill fabric has caught my eye, and would require 7-8 layers to give the desired thickness. Is this what I should be looking at?

[lutach]

Originally Posted by MetalMan

Man, thanks for the inspiration . Any future carbon-fiber chassis I make will be your fault . Granted it helps that I have laid carbon fiber and fiberglass before with great success, but with the FoodSaver idea this will enable me to do it at home.

I'm imagining laying a carbon fiber chassis with the desired front kick-up, built-in mud/dirt guards, and built-in battery holder. A mock-up chassis would be used that would already have these features, possibly made using 1/8" thick polycarbonate (which would be way too flexible to use as a chassis).

But to be realistic, if I (or anyone else) were to do this, there are some things I would like to know:
-what drill bit material or coating would be best for drilling? I have dulled standard high speed steel and TiN coated drill bits on softer composites than carbon fiber.
-What's the best way to cut/shape the piece after it's done curing? I would normally use my scroll saw, but those blades were made for wood and are dull after cutting only 3 inches of 1/8" CF.
-Which CF cloth to get? I've been looking here:
http://www.shopmaninc.com/carbonpage.html
The 11oz. two twill fabric has caught my eye, and would require 7-8 layers to give the desired thickness. Is this what I should be looking at?

Carbibe drill bits are best suited to drill carbon fiber. I've seen most carbon fiber sheets be cut with a band saw. Cheap CF cloth can be found in ebay.

[pb4ugo]

Originally Posted by MetalMan

Man, thanks for the inspiration . Any future carbon-fiber chassis I make will be your fault . Granted it helps that I have laid carbon fiber and fiberglass before with great success, but with the FoodSaver idea this will enable me to do it at home.

I'm imagining laying a carbon fiber chassis with the desired front kick-up, built-in mud/dirt guards, and built-in battery holder. A mock-up chassis would be used that would already have these features, possibly made using 1/8" thick polycarbonate (which would be way too flexible to use as a chassis).

But to be realistic, if I (or anyone else) were to do this, there are some things I would like to know:
-what drill bit material or coating would be best for drilling? I have dulled standard high speed steel and TiN coated drill bits on softer composites than carbon fiber.
-What's the best way to cut/shape the piece after it's done curing? I would normally use my scroll saw, but those blades were made for wood and are dull after cutting only 3 inches of 1/8" CF.
-Which CF cloth to get? I've been looking here:
http://www.shopmaninc.com/carbonpage.html
The 11oz. two twill fabric has caught my eye, and would require 7-8 layers to give the desired thickness. Is this what I should be looking at?

Those plans sound similar to many of mine! The norm to work on CF is carbide like Lutach said. Dave at DA Graphite actually recommended cobalt bits with a higher helix angle than the standard. I haven't had trouble at all using a center drill followed by carbide standard point drills.