Help Making a Carbon Fiber "Tube"

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Help Making a Carbon Fiber "Tube"

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Raijin	Raijin posted 10 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 1, Visits: 265	Let me just start by saying that I'm new here and the only experience with composites I've had is some simple fiberglass lay up by hand. I want to make a rectangular carbon fiber tube. I've done some preliminary research here but failed to find a thread about this specific type of project. I was, however, able to determine that I probably want to use the vacuum-bagging method. Here's a random photo I found on Google of the shape I'm going for: I'm guessing the easiest way to do this would be to saw off a length of gutter (or something similar in shape) and try to vacuum bag the CF around it using an actual bag (as opposed to the usual method of taping a 'bag' sheet over the piece). A few questions: How could I get a seamless piece like in the photo above? If I use carbon fiber sheets, there's bound to be a seam line running along the piece somewhere? Would you guys recommend using the carbon fiber that comes in tubular sleeves? How would you pros go about making something like this? Thanks! Edited 10 Years Ago by Raijin
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Chris Scott	Chris Scott posted 10 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 20, Visits: 235	^ That method is seems a bit more sophisticated than mine, I'll look into that. When I layup, I make the bottom layer extend past the others, this makes it flexible. I use a nozzle at the very edge of this and the CF tube will flex away from the tube. I do this for each side, you can visually see the CF pop away from the mandrel, after that I can separate it by hand. I use aluminum mandrels, mainly because originally I was concerned with losing my mandrel. So if I ever run into any difficulties, I can toss some dry ice over the tube to shrink the aluminum to assist with removal. Thankfully I haven't needed to do that yet.
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Help Making a Carbon Fiber "Tube"

Raijin - 10 Years Ago

I very much doubt that the tube in the picture is "seamless" -- You can not weave "Twill" in a...

Dravis - 10 Years Ago

Internal pressure mould would be my approach. Personally I'd do it with pre-preg and a silicone...

Hanaldo - 10 Years Ago

Both silicone intensifier and bladder techniques are probably the only realistic methods for...

Warren (Staff) - 10 Years Ago

I just make my own mandrel by simply polishing a metal tube. Then I wet layup and vacuum bag over...

Chris Scott - 10 Years Ago

[quote][b]Chris Scott (25/09/2015)[/b][hr]I just make my own mandrel by simply polishing a metal...

taikuri - 10 Years Ago

When laying up on the metal tube Mandrel (I use Stainless steel or hard Aluminium) close off one end...

Dravis - 10 Years Ago

^ That method is seems a bit more sophisticated than mine, I'll look into that. When I layup, I...

Chris Scott - 10 Years Ago

I have sometimes filled the aluminium tube/mandrel with hot water for speeding up the cure of the CF...

Dravis - 10 Years Ago

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Help Making a Carbon Fiber "Tube"

Help Making a Carbon Fiber "Tube"

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