Posts by Ryan Olliges
Carbon Fiber Surface Finishes Play a Role in Your Part Quality
There are so many options for manufacturing the surface finish on a carbon fiber panel. The surface finish you choose can make a difference in panel cost, and panel performance. The purpose of this is to explain the different surface finishes available from Elevated Materials, and when to use them. Matte Finish This is a…
Read MoreWhat are Forged Carbon Fiber Blocks?
For use as brackets or components, carbon fiber has several properties that give it an advantage over other materials. Carbon is lightweight corrosion resistant and stiff. Blocks can easily be tapped and milled to any geometry required. Different carbon fiber blocks can have different appearances. Each style has properties that give a unique benefit. Forged…
Read MoreCarbon Fiber Weaves: What they are and why to use them
If you have ever wondered why one piece of carbon fiber might look different from another piece of carbon fiber, you’re not alone. Carbon fiber comes in many different weaves and each one serves a different purpose, and it isn’t just cosmetic. Carbon fibers are made from precursors such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and rayon. The…
Read MoreCutting Carbon Fiber with a Waterjet, Advantages and Disadvantages
What is a Waterjet? A waterjet uses a pump to create a high pressure (up to 90,000 psi) jet of water that can cut through anything from foam to 8+” steel plate. When cutting through metal or carbon fiber, an abrasive material, such as garnet, is used to aid in the cutting process. (See the…
Read MoreAdvantages and Cost Factors Of Composite Materials
Written by Cliff Lester, under the supervision of Dr. Steven R. Nutt, this white paper provides an overview of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP, or carbon fiber) and looks at the advantages when compared to other materials, such as wood or metal, as well as cost factors associated with manufacturing carbon fiber parts. Cliff Lester…
Read MoreWhat Is Carbon Fiber? Composites 101: Fibers and Resins
What is carbon fiber? It is praised for it strength to weight ratio, and it is used in products such as rockets, race cars, bicycles and sunglasses. But what is carbon fiber reinforced plastic? CompositesWorld.com has a great article on this exact topic (posted on 3/14/2016). The following is an excerpt, click the link at the…
Read MoreBest Methods for Countersinking Holes in Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber looks great, but it is tricky to work with. We have posted articles previously on how to drill holes and cut carbon fiber with readily available tools (here and here), and now in this post we will cover countersinking, because you don’t want ugly hardware heads ruining the look of your cool new…
Read MoreThe Good, Better and Best Ways to Drill Carbon Fiber
If you don’t have the right tools and knowledge, drilling carbon fiber is a difficult task that will results in bad parts and ruined tools. In this post we will go over the good, better and best ways to drill carbon fiber and not ruin your parts or tools. Safety First – Use Protection Carbon…
Read More4 Best Methods for Cutting Carbon Fiber by Hand
Cutting carbon fiber can be a difficult task without the right equipment. This post will help you cut your carbon fiber parts with low cost tools (some that you may already have in your garage), and do it without messing up the carbon fiber sheet you just bought. Saftey First – Use Protection Carbon fiber…
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