Carbon fiber Parts are known for their exceptional stiffness and stability for their light weight.
They can get close to metal or even surpass it in many regardswhile being easier to work with, requiring less tools.
In principle there are two manufacturing methods:
- Laying carbon fiber mesh into a form and soaking it with epoxy, letting it cure.
this is well suited for big, thin and/or hollow parts with complicated shapes
- Putting fibers into a mold, soaking it with epoxy and compressing it. ("Forged" carbon fiber)
this is well suited for parts requiring strength in all directions which are bigger and would traditionally be milled from a full metal block
Basics:
- Carbon fiber (mesh)
- Brush
- Epoxy
- scalpel cutter
- scissors
- 3d printer (or making molds by other means
Advanced (infusion molding):
- Vacuum pump
- hoses
- peelply
- flow mesh
- vacuum bag
- vacuum bag sealer
- Oven to cure the parts when working with pre-infused meshes (mostly industrial use)