Hi everyone,
Got a new part for my bike delivered today, and it hit me, why not make this out of carbon fibre?
Its quite a complex shape. Do you guys think its do-able to make the bracket in the picture using resin infusion or is it way over complicated?
Thanks
Everything can be made, as long as you plan it carefully!
Like he said, all is possible with proper planning. The thing more importantly is what will you use to make that part just ass strong, if not stronger? There will be lots of liability in a part like that.
What is it? I would say infusion is impossible, depending on the part geometry, the loads it will see, and mounting. Prepreg is the way to go. You are also talking a multi-part mold, and maybe closed molding (or at least bladder)…
Infusion will work, but you should have a lot knowledge.
Hi guys,
Its a headlight bracket, it holds the headlights to the frame. Theres not really much load on it weight wise. But it does seem a pretty complex shape to use infusion, i just wanted others people views on it. Ill give this one a miss i think.
With fabrics you have to remember there are limitation,s and a lot off times reshaping,making it more composite friendly,but skill and a lot off understanding takes years I have learned there is a few ways to skin a cat,I would love to show you some parts I have made this iPad can not upload photos.
I think infusion would be hard just because of the issues of keeping the cloth in the right place, and then bagging well enough without bridging, and THEN trying to get the resin to flow and not have any dry areas.
If you make that part by using several molds you will have no problem infusing it. You need the molds to be strategic though. Pm me some pics.
Does it need to be that exact shape? The mounting points are obviously needed in those locations, and the bracket has to clear the frame, headlights, and other components. That approach may yield a simpler design that can be made more easily using composites.
I’d suggest a preform core made from a closed cell foam. Lay dry reinforcement onto the preform, then infuse. Fastening locations would need to be potted or have threaded inserts bonded in afterward. The preform would need to be shaped beforehand - CNC would be ideal, but you could likely hand carve a suitable piece as well.