how much fiberglass in a mini???
Discussion
Hi just wondering if anyone knows how much fiberglass is used to make a mini shell such as a FRA etc???
Just got the chance to buy carbon fiber matting cheap and was wondering if there would be enough to make a full shell?
Also dose anyone have any idea of the spec the carbon fiber would have to be???
Just got the chance to buy carbon fiber matting cheap and was wondering if there would be enough to make a full shell?
Also dose anyone have any idea of the spec the carbon fiber would have to be???
To make a carbon-fibre shell, or parts of a shell, would be very difficult.
Carbon-fibre structure, to achieve proper strength, requires a clean-room for the laying up and a big autoclave for proper curing.
I do some consultancy work for an advanced composites company and we make the bodies and aerofoils for some F1 and Int. Sports Car companies. Home made Carbon-fibre could well not have the necessary structural integrity. by the way, GRP (Fibreglass) has a strength to weight ratio no better than aluminium and not so predictable in load bearing terms.
Thus aluminium panels are best. Also, if you crash with GRP bits you may end up with bits of fibreglass sticking out of your bum, to quote an old race driver friend, who had this happen with a Ford engined TVR Grantura Mk.1 in the early 60's at Mallory Park - Mo Mendham was his name. In fact, it was this incident which turned him from racing his TVR to racing Minis.
Carbon-fibre structure, to achieve proper strength, requires a clean-room for the laying up and a big autoclave for proper curing.
I do some consultancy work for an advanced composites company and we make the bodies and aerofoils for some F1 and Int. Sports Car companies. Home made Carbon-fibre could well not have the necessary structural integrity. by the way, GRP (Fibreglass) has a strength to weight ratio no better than aluminium and not so predictable in load bearing terms.
Thus aluminium panels are best. Also, if you crash with GRP bits you may end up with bits of fibreglass sticking out of your bum, to quote an old race driver friend, who had this happen with a Ford engined TVR Grantura Mk.1 in the early 60's at Mallory Park - Mo Mendham was his name. In fact, it was this incident which turned him from racing his TVR to racing Minis.
Hey Peter just wondered if you've heard of some of these new resins for Carbon.
I was chatting to a guy earlier who works at SP Systems.
He was saying that with some of their newer products you don't have to use a auto clave (oven).
Been thinking about making a few carbon panels myself using the original steel ones as moulds.
Adam, if you are getting the carbon material real cheap than what are you really gonna loose.
Do what I was going to do which would be to make a bonnet boot-lid and maybe some arches.
Anything more and you will need allot of material as you wont be getting it right first time.
(Not an insult, promise)
This is a quote from a chap who's worked with carbon for a long time.
"I find with composites you have to be real careful when your wet laying.
As long as you don't take your eye of it for a second, not a second and the area you are working in is spotless and you have EVERYTHING in arms reach.
And if your lucky, really really lucky you might just get a result!!!!!"
Hope this helps
I was chatting to a guy earlier who works at SP Systems.
He was saying that with some of their newer products you don't have to use a auto clave (oven).
Been thinking about making a few carbon panels myself using the original steel ones as moulds.
Adam, if you are getting the carbon material real cheap than what are you really gonna loose.
Do what I was going to do which would be to make a bonnet boot-lid and maybe some arches.
Anything more and you will need allot of material as you wont be getting it right first time.
(Not an insult, promise)
This is a quote from a chap who's worked with carbon for a long time.
"I find with composites you have to be real careful when your wet laying.
As long as you don't take your eye of it for a second, not a second and the area you are working in is spotless and you have EVERYTHING in arms reach.
And if your lucky, really really lucky you might just get a result!!!!!"
Hope this helps
from past experience, making body kits spoilers etc, carbon is very complex if you want to make it strong, not only this but to make the moulds is way harder and more complicated than fiberglass.
Other things you must consider is that carbon is only stong in tension whereas fb is strong in also compression.
When race cars etc are built they may use up to 30+ different type of carbon weave, by the i mean the angle by which the carbon is woven together, eg 0deg to 90deg, 0deg 45 etc..... this is done as each time has its best strength in different directions.
personaly, if you were to do this project, it would be simpler to make the moulding or use some existing ones then gel up using clear gel, when dry apply a layer of carbon and let it dry, then do the final layup with normal strand mat and woven.
Doing it this way you would get a carbon finish, and to really get a perfect finish you can polish it and the have a body shop apply a coat of lacker.
>> Edited by sacha on Monday 7th June 19:05
Other things you must consider is that carbon is only stong in tension whereas fb is strong in also compression.
When race cars etc are built they may use up to 30+ different type of carbon weave, by the i mean the angle by which the carbon is woven together, eg 0deg to 90deg, 0deg 45 etc..... this is done as each time has its best strength in different directions.
personaly, if you were to do this project, it would be simpler to make the moulding or use some existing ones then gel up using clear gel, when dry apply a layer of carbon and let it dry, then do the final layup with normal strand mat and woven.
Doing it this way you would get a carbon finish, and to really get a perfect finish you can polish it and the have a body shop apply a coat of lacker.
>> Edited by sacha on Monday 7th June 19:05
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