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Batista Wang
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+xHello 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. According to my acknowledge and experiences, Laser printing is one of the best way to print on carbon fiber (tube or plate or whatever with a smooth surface) Weeks ago, we'd conducted an experiment for carbon fiber fishing rod project for Paul (Australian friend having a fishing rods workshop), and we tested printing logo (pattern + words) in white color, yellow gold color, and silver color, and it proved to be very effective: 1. Using Laser printer to print the artwork (your logo or words) (Oki pro 7411 wt laser printer is prefered); 2. Via heat transfer process to print the artwork to the carbon fiber by using heat press machines; 2.1. it is relatively easy to print white color on carbon fiber (200 celcuis degree for 20 seconds) ,pressure much be handled carefully' 2.2. for gold or silver print, will have to use gold or silver coil paper on heat press machines, 180 celcuis degree for 15 seconds 3. Use epoxy resin to cover up the print, so the printing will last much much longer Remark: A. for OKI pro 7411 wt laser printer, its much expensive, about USD 8000, BUT there are much cheaper options to do a very similar job, by using a modified cheaper OKI model, budget around USD 4500 (including the laser printer, special laser papperx100pcs, M/C/Y/W toner); B. Heat press machines of various type: budget around at USD 180~USD 400 C. Coil paper you can buy at your local market, not expensive Hope my experience and advise help, thanks, Batista WANG batista_wang at hotmail.com
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Colt Parker
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+xMy 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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valzine
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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
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Matevz
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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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scottracing
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http://www.aerodynamix.co.uk/carbon-engraving.htmlanother 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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VVS
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Group: Moderators
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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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Warren (Staff)
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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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f1rob
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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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Matevz
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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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scottracing
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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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