In almost every industry, where a combination of strength and lightweight are appreciated, the popularity of carbon fiber is growing rapidly. The reason here is that carbon fiber materials, such as carbon fiber composites, are highly versatile and efficient materials. In comparison to any other material like stainless steel, aluminum, wood, or plastic, carbon fiber is found to be more useful and effective as this enables the fabrication of high-performance lightweight products.
In fact, it has been found a lighter, stronger, quieter, and more flexible alternative to metals, plastic, wood, and even many other composites. In various industries like automobile, aerospace, healthcare, etc. Carbon fiber is gaining popularity.
Methods for Creating Carbon Fiber Parts
We know that carbon fiber parts manufacturing is a great alternative to other materials but how is there a difference between the different kinds of products? The reason here is that all carbon fiber manufacturing companies follow different types of methods for manufacturing. This is a skillful and labor-intensive process and the time required for all types of methods can range from one hour to 150 hours depending on the size and complexity of the part.
Wet Lay-Up – This is one of the most commonly used methods for carbon fiber parts manufacturing where the fiber is cut and laid into the mold then resin is applied. This seems like an easy task, but this method for carbon fiber manufacturing requires the most skills to create high-quality parts. At the same time, it is the least expensive workflow with the lowest requirements to get started.
Prepreg Lamination – In the carbon fiber parts manufacturing industry, this is another common method for manufacturing where the resin is infused in the fiber ahead. The sheets with prepreg composites are kept cold to inhibit the cure. Once the curing process is done, the plies are then cured into the mold under heat and pressure in an autoclave.
Resin transfer molding (RTM) – This is a process where the dry sheet of fiber is inserted into a two-part mold. The next step is to clamp the two sheets before forcing the resin into the cavity at high pressure. Since the technology is advanced these days, it is an automated process and is often used for larger volume manufacturing by the top carbon fiber manufacturing companies.
Process Of Carbon Fiber Parts Manufacturing
It’s the superior properties of carbon fiber and its unique characteristics that make carbon fiber the first choice when it comes to manufacturing a lightweight as well as a strong product. According to engineers across the world, carbon fiber is lighter, stronger, and more flexible than any other alternative available on the market. In the modern days, carbon fiber parts manufacturing has become an even more attractive option with the increase in demand for efficiency. So, what are the steps involved in the process of carbon fiber parts manufacturing?
Design & Engineering – Despite the growing popularity of carbon fiber parts, they’re the most complex to design and build than any other part using metals or plastic. This is the reason that carbon fiber parts require more specialized engineering capabilities. Unlike the metal parts, which are simply melted into liquid form and put into a mold for manufacturing, carbon fiber involves various steps, which need to be handled with care. Hence it takes a team of specialists that has extensive experience to engineer custom carbon fiber parts. The design technology allows engineers to run advanced calculations and predict how carbon fiber parts will perform in real-world conditions. This is why it is the most important step of the whole process.
Mold Fabrication – This is another very important and crucial step followed by carbon fiber manufacturing companies. It is a fact that without a good mold, it is important to make a good carbon fiber part. You cannot simply melt and harden liquid metal as carbon fiber composites are subject to a unique process of composite fiber layup and resin infusion.
Carbon Fiber Layup – Now that you have the mold of the carbon fiber part ready, the next step here in this process is to start applying the fiber, layer by layer, with a specialized spray adhesive. It is a very crucial step and the layup must be done in layers so that each of them is completed meticulously with attention to the weave for both strength and aesthetic purposed. Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) is an innovative method to perform this task as this allows for precise carbon fiber placement onto a base material. As a result, fibers are oriented in specific directions and patterns to optimize structural performance. In the end, you will have a carbon fiber part that is more durable and lightweight.
Resin Infusion – After the process of ‘carbon fiber layup’ the next step followed for carbon fiber parts manufacturing involves encasing the layers in the mold, which are then injected with resin in an infusion process.
Testing – Here is the final step involved in the process. Once the final product is cured completely, testing is done to check its strength and durability and it is also scrutinized for visual precision. For example, carbon fiber wheels are put on a stress test machine to simulate hours of use and duress. If any improvement is required, it can be done in the product or its design part. Data plays a very important role here as this helps analyze the strength of the end product and can help with the improvements needed for the design or any other part.
So we can say that when it comes to creating something study as well as light in weight, carbon fiber is the right choice to make as this is found to be stronger or lighter than any other material available on the earth. It is very important that you choose the carbon fiber manufacturing companies that have access to advanced technology for the manufacturing of carbon fiber products or parts.
