opinions please--
 what is your opinions of a few test projects done in polyester and fiberglass?
as in--to polish our skills and the way we do what we do, to cut costs and ultimately
have us make successful projects. i know the cost savings are there, but even polyester
is not cheap either.
 the learning curve is there, but the costs really hurt when a project fails to go as hoped. do
you think the materials and techniques are similar enough for this to even be worth it?
or do we double down on being really focused on the task at hand and just take our lumps as they come?


thanks for all useful replies


scott

CarbonFiberCreations

Hi Scott, interesting question that one. I am 6 months into starting my own composites business and as you say the luxury of test pieces is not always financially viable. Having said that doing FG samples has also saved me a small fortune, twice now I have missed small mechanical locks in a mould that would have seen hundreds of pounds worth of Carbon in the scrap bin.

i've used FG cloth instead of carbon before, just makes sense 5 dollars a metre of 70 dollars a metre. (thats what the shops try and sell it for here!)

the way i look at it is, i can either pay for a course and learn that way or pay for some materials, read a little, and learn that way. either way you pay out.

I've used a Silver/black PET/fiberglass cloth to simulate CF and works out great, the grey PET becomes quit dark at the end so you get a nice cheap carbonfiber look for 15€/sqm (as toplayer for example)

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website: www.mat2composites.com

If you're looking for a good price for carbon fiber or Kevlar, Fiberglass Hawaii has the lowest prices I've found anywhere. $32 US for 5.8oz 3K 2x2 twill. It's made by Hexcel, a manufacturer of aerospace carbon fiber. I'm not sure how much shipping would be as I live in Hawaii.

Hi Scott

I have been working with only polyester and glass fiber for about 28 years. Only in the last year or two have I pushed through the learning curve on Epoxy and Carbon fiber.

There is no difference really in technic. Its the end result that you need that dictates which you should use, each material has its place. Aircraft- use epoxy and carbon for light weight and superior strength. Boats and dunebuggy's - use polyester and glass.

All of my molds are made in polyester and glass fiber that I make my carbon parts in, because of cost issues.

If you require crazy accuracy you need to make your mold out of epoxy and your part out of epoxy because they shrink very little.

I only now have made a few molds out of high temperature epoxy surface coat and high temperature resin. I also used my carbon fiber scraps for the reinforcement. I needed to do this to use high temperature prepreg carbon.

I really perfere infusion vacuum bagging the most, but who knows my shipment of EC prepreg just arrived and we will see. Perhaps prepreg is what I will like the best!

Hope this helps.

Fred  

thanks everyone !

CarbonFiberCreations

I always do a test piece in GRP before going to carbon.  Then, I'm not a business where things couold be time critical and labour is often the most costly comodity.  This way I know my moulds work and that my parts fit.

here i am not the only one
test

CarbonFiberCreations