Complete Process of Copying a Part in Prepreg Carbon Fibre
Product links ► www.easycomposites.co.uk/lear...
Further information ▼
Composites training tutorial covering the entire process, from start to finish, for recreating an existing part using F1-style prepreg carbon fibre. The tutorial is aimed at those new to composites, or experienced in composites but new to prepreg, and is intended to remove as many barriers as possible that may stand in the way of working with this material, including demonstrating how a domestic oven can be used for post-curing moulds, and curing prepregs.
Full Project Details
UK and World ► www.easycomposites.co.uk/lear...
EU ► www.easycomposites.eu/learnin...
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Preparing the Pattern
03:09 Making the Mould
06:33 Trimming and Finishing the Mould
07:41 Post-Curing the Mould
08:32 Using a Domestic Oven for Composites
12:02 Laminating the Prepreg Surface Ply
15:03 Vacuum Debulking the Surface Ply
17:00 Laminating the Prepreg Backing Ply
17:44 Vacuum Bagging for the Cure
19:22 Oven Curing the Prepreg
21:32 Demould and Trim
I wanted 4 carbon fiber parts for one of my vehicles. The company wanted 3k *per*. I had never made carbon fiber parts before. I watched your videos and made identical parts, all 4 of them, for under $200 total. I VERY MUCH appreciate you!
Haha! That's great to hear. Well done for giving it a go, most people watch but still pay the $$$!
how much vacuum pump?
Surely your materials cost more than that
I had epoxy already, I use it on 3d prints sometimes. I used a vacuum bag my wife had for blankets. The breather material, release film, and carbon fiber twill off Amazon was less than $200. I used my shop vac for the vacuum, following another easy composites video. The parts are small, all 4 fit in one bag.
@labemolon5739 I like the way you THINK OUTSIDE THE THE BOX! Have you ever used any carbon fiber that's bi-axial braided tube? It's amazing for strength, radius/contours incredibly. Oh, it's dry, so wet lay-up is the way to use it.
The B-roll of the typical domestic oven was hilarious.
i never thought there would be a cinematic intro for a standard kitchen oven.....i was wrong.
I liked the Ironie behind a lot.
The quality of your videos is extremely good, very educational and still entertaining.
Thank you, that's what we aim to do. It's a fine balance of course but I like to think we get it about right. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I only use 2 processes for the parts I make, but EVERY. SINGLE. VIDEO. you guys put out is super fun and motivating. It'd be super if you would post more often. 💙
Thanks and glad you enjoy what we do. We always have the intention of putting out content faster but then so many other things get in the way.... we'll keep trying!
Quality over quantity.
The B roll for the oven intro had me dying 😂 - hats off to the editors
Haha, yes, editor Ben had free reign on that one! Seems people enjoyed it 😀
I always appreciate your videos because you treat your customers with a significant amount of respect. There's too many companies that attempt videos like these and they always leave critical details or troubleshooting steps that would eat resources. Your videos are always thorough, and you refined the process so even a hobbiest like me feels completely comfortable taking on similar projects. Thank you for your effort and I hope it continues to pay off.
Thanks a lot, that’s really great feedback to get. Thanks for watching and all the best for your project if you decide to use some of the information from this video 😀.
WHAT IS THIS OVEN MONTAGE OMG, amazing
My work here is done.
When you make a video,you never dissapoint.Yet a brilliant video from you guys that will not only help others but inspire others to try and make parts for themselvs. Me included!.
Thanks for the kind words, we hope to inspire as many people as possible to get into this fascinating area of engineering. I hope you share your achievements with us soon!
I feel like with many other companies, they seem to either service the larger industry or service very small and amateur techniques but this channel always shows off some of the more complicated and experimental techniques while doing so in a super easy to understand and motivating way. Strikes a perfect balance between amateur in the garage and aerospace-grade methods that anyone could do.
Apart from the invaluable knowledge that is being taught here, the production value is on another level. Especially when showing the before and after debulking in the same panning shot. Plus the Cinematic intro to the kitchen oven was masterclass! :D
Thank you - we're glad you appreciate the efforts we go to on both fronts.
Me and the boys renting out an IMAX theater to watch the new Easy Composites video
This is why Easy Composites is one of the coolest and best composites stores out there. These videos are fantastic and can't get enough of them. Super neat that you showed this using basic tools. Thanks again.
That transition to the kitchen oven was one of the funniest and off kilter things I have ever seen hahahahaha.
I probably will never make anything out of carbon fiber, but I’m watching every video this Chanel posts. There is something about it.. I wish I could pick it up as a hobby, but I don’t really have the place/need CF parts. 😅
Well, even if you're just watching for a bit of education and entertainment, we still appreciate the feedback and always like to hear that people enjoy what we're putting out. Maybe in some future videos we'll stray into an area that you can make some practical use of, so keep watching :)
These videos are awesome! I don't even know what I'd make, but every time I watch one of your tutorials I get the urge to buy an evaluation kit and just make something. One of these days I'm going to find the perfect thing to make.
I don't understand how you keep making videos THIS good it's crazy
That was amazing cinematography to introduce the kitchen oven 😂
Paul could make a video about the 4 month old pizza under his couch and it would be entertaining and educational at the same time. 🤷🏼♂️ 😳 And now to something completely different : Thank you to Paul and the team of easy composites for another highly appreciated video.
As always; the best ad for your products. Love to watch and gather tips about composites even if I rarely do any work like this :)
Hi Paul! Can't tell you how excited I am to have found your channel. Its a fantastic resource. Thank you!
Thanks so much for making these videos. All of them have been fantastic. Trying to get brave enough to start making automotive parts.
This video was aimed at you then! We're specifically aiming this at converting the composites 'lurkers' into composites do-ers. Honestly, give it a try, you may never look back!
@@easycompositestv i've also been lurking for a great while, this video made me think about which projects might be good for this kit! awesome by the way that you have an EU based warehouse, can i assume that's still a thing? cheers!
LOL that oven B-roll was fire 🔥🔥
After years of prepreg using your easy composites oven the results your showing from a kitchen oven are pretty impressive! Iv found its very rare to get 100% pinhole free even with the perfect set up with perfect bag seal. So extra finishing is always needed unless your full autoclave.
I wanted to say thank you for your videos. I learned a lot from you, and then managed to not mess up too bad in creating a motorcycle body, making molds, and remaking it with carbon fiber. I did wet layup, and used cheap vacuum bags, but it turned out surprisingly useable. I now have a full custom built miniGP race bike, as I made the entire chassis as well. It weighs less than I do.
You guys can read my mind, because this question has been circling around my head for quite a while. There are several items that I want to create and was thinking if an oven cure would be suitable. I‘ve checked the temperature range in my oven between the thermostats heating and idle phase with a precise digital thermometer. It came out that there is a difference of 15 degrees centigrade between the two phases (120 C-105 C). That result and the fact that I couldn’t find any infos regarding this issue anywhere made me hesitate to start my project. Well, after watching this video, I feel more confident and can start preparing my projects now. Thank you very much for your videos, which gave me a lot of inspiration in making my own carbon parts. Working with carbon is just so satisfying.
The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.
Oh my, the number you did filming that oven... I knew what was coming, because I had paid attention in the intro of course, but still introducing it in a supercar shot like that, SO funny...
I'm currently in a "beginner's zone" of silicone moulding, 3D printing and resin casting ... but when I have earned my big boy badge, I am 100% ordering from Easy Composites. Even so, the videos are super informative and ... oddly relaxing.
I recently picked up them projects too to make clear factory style buttons for a RGBW cluster and dash light conversion. I've always been interested in it though.
Thanks for another lovely episode of carbon creating, love your content and the nice presentation...
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching and we appreciate the support.
Makes me appreciate my carbon fiber motorcycle parts even more. Think I am going to leave it to the experts. Very interesting indeed.
Man I love your videos! I don't even deal with carbon at all but absolutely love watching these! So clear concise and chronological. Theres never a moment I'm bored or thinking why am I watching this? : )
I think this is the best video you guys have made so far.
Best ad I've seen in a long time!
Essentially letting the customer have a in home autoclave. That's amazing, love this company.
Thanks for watching and commenting, yes we hope this inspires a few more people to give these materials a go!
You make everything look a lot easier than I know it will be!
You guys put the easy in easy composites, that's for sure. Would love to try prepreg some day.
One thing I enjoy a lot on KZhead is learning about cool things I’ll probably never do in my life.
Yes, us too! No shame in understanding things you won’t actually do, quite the opposite in fact!
You guys are really good at including the small but essential details that take away a lot of the frustration when working with carbon fiber for the first time. For me it carbon fiber was a medium that was exclusive for big manufacturers and specialists, but man was i wrong. You guys live up to your brand name and then some. Also that cinematic intro for the stove was unexpected and brilliant!
Glad to help!
I feel like watching these videos leads to information overload. It seems simple from afar but there are a lot of things going on here, all of them equally important. It’s going to take me a while before I build up the knowledge needed to attempt any of it.
This was the one i have been waiting for Thank you all so much for the time and trouble you have taken to make all your videos
You're welcome, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
My man makes this look so easy! Super informative and well done!
Another great video as always. Easy to follow.
Thumbs upped before I even hit Play. I already knew. ...your solution to not angering the wife by drilling a hole in the side of the oven would have been useful about 7 years ago. I just bought her a new oven lol
Haha! Sorry, 7 years too late, that's rough. Hope you've been making parts since then!
Best composites channel ever. Thank!
Haha, well, I guess there aren't too many full-time composites channels! But, thanks for the support :)
fabulous video as always!! Haha, this reminds me of my youth, I got some prepreg leftovers from my dad (working in a space company), storing in the family freezer and using the oven really tested my moms tolerance... but I was in makers heaven :-)
The unnecessary cinematic shot of the kitchen oven made the video much better! 😄
Absolute strength, quality 💯
Love these videos, thanks easy composites
I am DEFINITELY getting this stuff! Been wanting to be able to make my own little interior bits! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! !
You’re very welcome, thanks for watching and it’s great to hear you’re going to give this a try!
Amazing work. Thanks!
That oven reveal was spectacular 😆
great presentation as always, itching to give pre pregs a try, so this video was very timely - thanks E.C.
No problem, glad you found it useful, we're here to help when you give it a go!
The before and after debulking shot is slick!
Thanks, yes that worked out better than we thought! I'd love to say it was done with a steady hand but it was a rhino slider and a carefully marked position on the bench!
Paul is such a legend. As an instructional, informative host, I'd put him up there with the likes of Bob Ross or Bill Nye, and that's no exaggeration. Easy Composites, whatever you're paying him, it's not enough!😂
It's a good Job he's the boss then 😂
Renaissance man!
So I was watching, and thinking, "This is really good - I like it so far!" but THEN, you introduced a kitchen oven with some sexy close-up shots and drum-and-bass music. That was when I had to pause the video, click the like button, and leave this comment. AWESOME.
Haha, thanks, appreciate the feedback, and glad you liked the oven ad montage!
@@easycompositestv If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong! Thanks for these videos, I've been geeking out watching them.
Informative as always Paul.
We use pre preg making airbus a350 and a400m aircrafts. Very similar process, although we have industrial grade debulkers that apply heat, and lots of composite engineering when it comes to plies, strength, and degrees of which plies are applied. The ovens are much higher temperature as you could imagine, to cure such a part with 16-32 plies. The mold, or the "tool" is metal and very heavy! Around 1-2 tons!
20 yrs ago I used to make carbon parts both hand lay and pre preg... Had to used a deep freezer to keep the materials under zero degrees. Man your video is getting excited to start up again
We still recommend keeping unused pre-preg in the freezer to prolong its life.
Great job as usual! One idea for the future video - try to produce a flat carbon fiber with a flexible transparant top coat (like PVC plastisole as an example). This can be a new product for interior flat parts lamination with a tack film in between - real carbon fiber which you can cut and just glue on a flat surface in 10 minutes.
Best and most useful channel of KZhead. Thank you very much! 😁👍🏼
Thanks for commenting. You're very welcome!
Thank yo for doing this and showing the home oven information
No problem, everyone has to start somewhere, thanks for watching!
Nice one Paul, actually used this system over 20 years ago to make some inner wing liners for a rally car . Back then there was no information like this and everything was trial and error, was even going to attempt carbon exhaust cans but information was very scarce and quite a well kept secret. I’m currently making plans for molding a bodyshell with split tooling and bolted flanges , b nice if you could do a video on something similar as I’m undecided what’s the best way to infuse/ vac bag large multi piece molds without bagging the whole part. ( eradicating vacuum loss through flanges ) . PS . yes I do purchase my materials off yourselves so not being cheeky 😂 🇬🇧.
Another beautiful tutorial.
Thanks for commenting, it's appreciated!
Amazing pro tutorial....Wao!
This is awesome Makes it look so easy
Perfect video as always! Thanks guys!!
You're welcome Vasilis, thanks for watching.
'Always stellar instructional content. TY for sharing. :)
Ive just finished a wet layup on 3 molds for a 36” rc boat, i wish i had pre preg😂 i may be buying a sheet from you guys for my next boat
I liked the "Oven Trailer" :) expeted as similer pesentation of the finnished prepreg-part
Yes we let Ben the videographer free on that, glad you appreciated it!
You make it look so easy!
Top job as always the kits are ace cheers!
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching, glad you like what we do :)
I may never need to create carbon fiber parts, but it is interesting how to do it.
Merci pour la vidéo 😊la pièce en carbone est fantastique.
Merci pour le commentaire, content que la vidéo vous ait plu. Peut-être devrions-nous organiser un tirage au sort pour le vent !
@@easycompositestv pourquoi un tirage au sort ?
Professional video as usual. 👌
Another great vid. And great products.
Thanks Gareth, appreciate the support and comment.
Man I love this channel.
Thanks a lot, we appreciate the comment; that's great to hear :)
That's bloody brilliant! Definitely going to give this a try, just need to decide what to make 🤔 lol. Only downside is the fiddly mold curing process with the temp increases, but if that's the only really fiddly bit? That's pretty awesome!
I always enjoy the very detailed videos you guys have. I won't do this but still very educational.
Well that’s fine, thanks for watching!
thanks for the inspiration im makng carbon fiber whit my kithcen oven and vacuum cleaner and u showd me how to do it better.
As always pro video!!! Thank u!
Your welcome, thanks for the kind comment!
Prepreg doesn't seem as scary as it was before. Though I'm still waiting for your take on internal sacrificial 3D printed mold infusion technique.
Thanks, and no, prepreg shouldn't seem scary, that was definitely the purpose of this video. As for 3D printed mandrels, yes, we'll cover this. We did a lot of 3D printing videos so we're exploring some other topics for the next few videos but we will return to more 3D printing in composites!
I'd be interested in seeing a 3d printed mandrel too :). Love the videos
love this channel. great to see that you're selling your own kits now. must have been a lot of work. you deserve to you earn a hefty profit.
Thank you. Actually, we’ve been selling kits since the very first video we made 13 years ago, we just try not to push our products, but they’ve always been there if people want them 😀
@@easycompositestv I think you should advertise them more. It's much better than a sponsorship and highly relevant to anyone watching this channel. I doubt the people complaining about you advertising your own products have any impact on your views or your sales. Some people just like to complain.
8:48 Awesome AD of oven. I'll buy it !!
Regular kitchen oven never looked so good.
He just bought it for this presentation.
I love how it turned into an appliance commercial for a few seconds. 😂😂😂
Top notch training!
Thanks a lot, appreciate the support :)
just what i needed! thanks
Thanks, right place, right time. All the best for your project; let us know how you get on.
The cameraman definitely had fun making b-roll.
Maaaaaybe 😋
You do some great videos, thank you! I would love to see one of your strength tests like you did for the sled but with hybrid fabrics if you are willing?
Thanks for the suggestion. We do have some more strength tests in the planning stage already and we don’t want to overdo them so it might be some time before we get back to hybrids but it’s definitely something we can return to in the future 👍.
Lost it on the oven intro 😂
I love it! I think, I will start to replace chassis parts with carbon on my project car as soon as it is good to go :)
Ambitious plans Jans. If you really do this, it would be worth starting on some smaller components to gain some experience before you embark on a full monocoque! But all the best with it, look forward to working with you.
@@easycompositestv Yeah, I will start with details inside the car like handles, panels and the like before grabbing for the sky :)
Thanks for showing me this and great job on the video! Now knowing this, I'll let the someone else do it.
Hi Paul educating the masses brilliant as ever ....Darren @ Kismet Bikes ;)
Hey Darren, nice to hear from you. Thanks for the comment... still doing my best!
Anddddd that’s why good/high quality carbon fiber part is soooo expensive 😂 That troll oven ads you make is 90% better than most advertisement out there 🤣 and I really love the close up view! I hope I’ll get my hand having fun making carbon fiber part someday 🥹🥹🥹🥹 I really lve this kinda things! 😍😍😍
I love your videos.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
sois los mejores,vuestros videos son Estupendos
Gracias, es muy amable. Agradecemos su apoyo. ¡Disfruta el video!
Its sad that i bought your kits back in 2010 and still havent used it ... I love the videos and the idea that i can do this
Mmmm, you might need to refresh the materials in a kit from 2010! VFR400 - what a machine!
These videos you guys post are second to none :) I love watching them :) Question, I noticed on the sample kit box it says to store frozen, How do you ship to Australia and stop it from curing prematurely?
The freezer "out life" is over 30 days so most destinations you will receive the goods before that and then you can put it back in the freezer.
Amazing video and certainly interesting to start toying with car parts. What clear coat would you suggest to stop the carbon yellowing with the sun?