carbon fiber

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:04 pm

Well i pretty much got the electronics figured out in my n64 portable (pictures are posted in the 64 forum) , so i am now focusing on the case.

inspired by the use of composite materials in the solar car, and then even more so by seeing this laptop in person, i think i may make mine out of carbon fiber

they are using it in luxury cars onw and stuff too. its sexy. conicidentally, there is also a severe worldwide shortage, so its valuable... like gold

it looks like the material will cost me maybe $80 canadian if i play my cards right (ebay looks like a good source), and then maybe 40 more for the epoxies that i would need.

so yeah. that was my idea... just sort of bouncing it off you guys. has anyone worked with any composite type materials before? (fiberglass, kevlar, carbon fiber...). ive done fiberglass once, but it was to a canoe... i just dont want to screw up and waste hundreds of dollars of stuff.

Mr. Hawkins · Post by **Mr. Hawkins** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:04 pm

I would strongly reccomend you stay away from carbon fiber. I've worked with fiberglass before and carbon fiber is similar, but it can't take quite the same abuse during its construction that fiberglass can. Yeah, it looks great if you can get it to shape the way you want, but that is extremely hard. Even professionals mess up on making parts for cars (which just cost my friend about $150

). Once it is made (if it's made correctly) then it is really strong, but it's also brittle because it usually is only only stong in one direction. Anyway, it is good that people are branching out and trying new stuff. I'm not saying don't do it, but thoroughly research it and be very careful when laying the stuff out (oh, and it doesn't hurt to a ton of cash around in case you mess up

)

ransoman · Post by **ransoman** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:57 pm

you can buy it ready made in sheets but it is still pretty expensive. Bear in mind it is a pain to cut too as it is very hard.

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:01 pm

it is very very very expensive although working with it (with fiberglass experience) isnt too bad

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:11 pm

well i have my own credit card now (

) so i think i can probably just get some off ebay. its like 40 bucks for a yard of fabric. which is all i probably need. not that bad. i can make more than that in one day.

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:06 pm

i suggest having a go with fiberglass first though

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:35 pm

a person might if they were worried about making it look right build a frankencase to the shape they wanted and then cover it in a layer of carbon fiber to get the strength and appearence of the stuff.

Post by **Triton** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:03 pm

i would vote to do fiberglass too, it weighs more but its more flexible and less expensive

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:57 pm

yeah i originally was going to go with fiberglass... but now im all excited about carbon fiber! ... i really think im going to try it...