Printing on carbon fibre

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Printing on carbon fibre

Author	Message
Matevz	Matevz posted 9 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 36	Hello all, I have a question about printing on carbon fibre. Me and my friends are working on some project and we would need to print something on carbon fibre. We have already tried UV printers, direct printing and screen printing. The only method that is close to OK is screen printing, but paint just isn't durable enough (maybe if we could apply some kind of varnish over it would be ok). We heard about some kind of foil, that you apply before curing carbon fibre but we don't know what would be the finish with that technique and what kind of foil we would need. We are using 200g pre-preg cured at 130 deg C. Thank you for your help!
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scottracing	scottracing posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 460, Visits: 5.2K	you can create stickers and place them into the mould before the carbon and then cure it, this is how we do a lot of tooling. Or you can place the stickers on afterwards and then lacquer them? Can I ask what the component is and what you are trying to achieve? If its a company or part logo then you could look into embossing the part and then filling with paint and lacquering as that looks very nice.
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Matevz	Matevz posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 36	At first thank you very much for fast reply. We are trying to make business card. It is made out of one ply so that is flexible and durable. Can you tell me more about that stickers and lacquer. What kind of material, where can I get them. Because lacquer that I have now peels of when I scratched it. I also wonder how precise is technique with stickers. How small letters can you make and if sticker after curing stay nice. I am worried that sticker would get wrinkled after that.
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f1rob	f1rob posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 237, Visits: 4.8K	Made myself a couple of hundred cards years ago mine were 3ply 190 gram and I had all my details screen printed onto the cards after they were cut to size not as long lasting as stickers but it was all about bullshit and visual impact an first impressions
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Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K	Screen Printing and then lacquer is probably the easiest reasonably durable approach. Warren Penalver Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
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*VVS*	*VVS* posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Moderators Posts: 226, Visits: 334	My best friend is a fishing rod builder and uses water soluble screen print decals for writing, these are then sealed with epoxy resin. Take a look at Calvin Hancock custom rods to see what is achievable.
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scottracing	scottracing posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 460, Visits: 5.2K	http://www.aerodynamix.co.uk/carbon-engraving.html another way to do it, if the sheet is thick enough is to etch it out and paint fill , but I reckon it would be too expensive, especially for a business card.
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Matevz	Matevz posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 4, Visits: 36	Thank you all for the answers! VVS: at first I must say those fishing rods look fantastic. If I understand correctly he uses water soluble decals so epoxy can go through them? Do you think that would work the same if I would use same type of decals no carbon before curing? Could you tell me little bit more about that process? Warren: could you please tell me what kind of lacquer? Scottracing: ould you tell me what material I should use for stickers?
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valzine	valzine posted 9 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 6, Visits: 21	I was able to achieve good results by creating vinyl stencils (you can cut them by using any kind of cutting printer like silhouette portrait), applying them on carbon fiber, and then sandblasting the area. I then degrease it and paint it over with any automotive paint, then a layer of clear coat. Remove the vinyl, polish the area, and it will stay forever. You could also use a primer before painting, but in my case it didn't need it. Hope this helps Edited 9 Years Ago by valzine
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Colt Parker	Colt Parker posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 1, Visits: 1	+x VVS - 1/6/2016 6:28:48 PM My best friend is a fishing rod builder and uses water soluble screen print decals for writing, these are then sealed with epoxy resin. Take a look at Calvin Hancock custom rods to see what is achievable. Hello! I am also trying to figure this process out and was wondering if you could provide just a little more info to help me get started. I took a look at the rods and am really impressed. Is there a special printer used to make these decals? Is there a company that provides these as a service? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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