Lettering in or on carbon fiber

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#1

Hi guys,

I’m new here and starting to do my own carbon fiber lamination, mostly they are auto parts. Anyway, I got 2 noobie questions. 1. I’m just wondering if you guys can help me out with this lettering on or in carbon fiber I’m not sure. For example, like this porsche door sill.

Anybody know how it’s done?

  1. Can you guys give me some tips on draping the cloth on the corners? Is it better to apply the first coat and let it become tacky so that you can lay the cloth on the part or soak the cloth with mixed resin and apply it directly to the part (For the materials with complex curves) ?
#2

You could use a frisket (google it ) and shoot paint onto the mold surface and then infuse it. The resin will bond the paint to the layup.

#3

What if I do lamination, how should I perform this? I assume on first layer of resin after the cloth is applied on the material?

#4

I assuming that you are making your parts in a mold (like the one in the photo). If you are overlaying then you’ll have to paint after layup. I would use something PPG Deltron DBC basecaoat (dries in just a few minutes) to do the lettering and then a clear over it.

#5

i dont know how they are doing it with a matte finish on the cf, but this is done all the time on surfboards. they do the finish epoxy or polyester resin coat over the fiberglass, then mix a few oz of resin up with a pigment and hit it with a lot of catalyst so it kicks quick. then they paint or stencil their design on.
after that they come back with whats called a hot coat, a small batch of high catalyst to resin mix that kicks in like 10min, that way it goes on thin for the final resin coating the board and encapsulating the artwork.

you could probably also get a piece of cf laser cut into a design that had a different weave than your underlying layers. if you laid it on last it may give a nice effect, although probably hard to see.

#6

^^^ laser cut carbon ?? In raw form

#7

That’s pretty interesting method! Do you have any write-ups or videos that I can take a look somewhere because I’m still not too confident to do this on my own. Also, I was thinking would be it be easier to use airbrush to do lettering after sanding the material for clear coat?

#8

I have used clear plastic sheet, used paint marker on it (i’m sure a laser transparency, or whatever), and just infused it onto the part. Something like that Porsche would clear coated, so that helps hide the plastic edges. Some plastics, combined with resins and cure/postcure can also melt the plastic INTO the resin. Might be worth getting some PES film and printing on it if you use epoxy. Stencil with silver paint markers, or spray paint. Even a foil rub might work. You MUST clear coat the top, obviously.

#9

Are we sure the emblem is not laser cut metal, and embedded in the part?

#10

Im with Herman, My money is on the porsche logo lazer cut in stainless steel.

#11

So basically just paint the a thin stainless steel, laser cut it as desired shape glue it to the material and resin coat it? I actually found a better picture. It looks like something is laid on top of the cloth, but really really thin material or it’s a paint I’m not sure.
http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/264059/2010-porsche-911-gt3-carbon-fiber-door-sill-badge-photo-265049-s-1280x782.jpg

#12

I checked on my GT3 in the garage, and it is self adhesive thin steel. Probably lasercut or waterjetted.

#13

full carbon GT3?? :D:D:D

#14

Take a look at what Natedawg has done on some of these emblems. Not sure if the link will be blocked because it’s on another forum but you cab google them
http://www.fiberglassforums.com/carbon-fiber/11476-more-vehicle-emblems-cf-cf-kevlar-8.html

#15

I have just recently started playing with this idea. What I have done is just placed a graphic between a b stage top coat, and the lam. Check out the pics for a better idea…

These are just stickers. They are a little stiff for this application, but this is an experiment.

Applied between two layers of home brew epoxy top coat.

The result is OK. There are a few bubbles that didn’t get worked out.

I printed this BMW emblem to see how the printed graphic would stand up to the epoxy. The epoxy did not harm the printed graphic at all.

You can really do all kinds of things like this if you put your mind to it. :smiley:

#16

Wow thanks guys! I love the GT3! I myself own a c63 :), but can’t beat your track beast for sure!

Do you think it’s better to apply the stainless steel before the clear coat or after you wet out the cloth for the first coat?

#17

Keep the stainless on the surface. You do not want any coating over it, risk of flaking, damaging, etc.

I also have a Bugatti, which is parked IN my office… :slight_smile:

#18

any pictures…? :slight_smile:

#19