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PostPosted: July 21, 2018, 10:13 am 
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Joined: July 24, 2008, 9:18 pm
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I want to order already made flat sheets of carbon fiber. I want to use this to make various things. Flat bottom, Wing, front diffuser, interior pieces, etc.

I dont have anywhere local to get it. So anyone know where would be the best cost efficient place to buy from?

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PostPosted: July 23, 2018, 9:11 am 
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Joined: February 23, 2017, 12:45 pm
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Location: Austin, TX
Not sure how they are price wise but I have purchased from these guys in the past- https://dragonplate.com/


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PostPosted: July 23, 2018, 2:38 pm 
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Does it have to be carbon? You can buy sheets of fiberglass much cheaper from places like Mcmaster.com. If you really need the carbon look, epoxy some carbon to the fiberglass.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2018, 9:00 am 
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After looking around the internet a bunch. I found a material called Alumalite.

Anyone here use it? Looks like a very good option that's not nearly expensive.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2018, 9:39 am 
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sen2two wrote:
After looking around the internet a bunch. I found a material called Alumalite.
Anyone here use it? Looks like a very good option that's not nearly expensive.
I don't have any personal experience with Alumalite, but a racin' buddy of mine has used it for splitters and panels on his autocross car. He says it's as light as thin aluminum sheet and much stronger.

I likewise haven't shopped for Alumalite, but sign shops seem to use it and sell it. Good luck!

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PostPosted: July 24, 2018, 3:22 pm 
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just heard of someone using alumilite somewhere, lemme re-energized some memory cells...

found it, it was in my IG feed https://www.instagram.com/p/BgtlI6nhhnz ... finityaero

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PostPosted: June 29, 2021, 1:57 pm 
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Joined: August 18, 2015, 12:41 pm
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Location: Seattle area (Woodinville)
You can make your own flat CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) flat panels

Buy a piece of glass that has larger dimensions than the panel you need. Plate glass is best.

Buy carbon fiber cloth. You can get different size and types of weaves. https://www.fibreglast.com/category/car ... sic-styles

Buy vinylester or epoxy resin, both of which will penetrate and wet out the carbon cloth much more easily than polyester. Vinylester has higher UV tolerance than epoxy.

Lay your glass piece down on a flat surface and coat it with wax or parting agent. If you use wax, use a natural wax, such as carnuba wax which is used to wax cars, and apply several coats.

Cut and lay out your carbon fiber cloth. Make it slightly oversize. and lay it out on the glass sheet.

Mix your resin per the manufacturer's instructions, and apply it to the glass cloth. I recommend pouring some onto the cloth, spreading it with a disposable paintbrush.

When you have spread all that you have poured, use the paintbrush to apply more.

After you have brushed the resin out, use a grooved roller to work out the air bubbles. The rollers are available from fiberglass suppliers.
https://www.fibreglast.com/product/Alum ... ZoQAvD_BwE

Let it cure, then remove the CFRP panel from the sheet of glass. You may need to use a relatively soft plastic wedge to break the edge of the panel loose from the glass, also available from fiberglass suppliers.

Et voila, you have a carbon fiber flat panel, and you have begun to learn how to work with fiberglass.

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Last edited by JerryH on June 29, 2021, 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: June 29, 2021, 5:48 pm 
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Better yet, put it between two sheets of glass and get two finished surfaces. Or ... put peel ply on one or both surfaces if you are going to do more bonding downstream.

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