Fibrelyte tubs no more

[GoMachV]

In '88 we wanted it to be fast and light. In '14 we want it to look good too

[Coelacanth]

If it's intended to race, I guess it doesn't matter if it looks like shat...as long as it's light. Heck, that's why people Swiss-cheesed all those RC10 tubs BITD.

Since I'll never win a race, and don't want a car that'll barely hold up for a race weekend, I'll bulletproof what I can and make it look as nice and unique as possible...as long as looks doesn't trump functionality.

[slotcarrod]

And that's why F1 and LMP cars have such ugly molded carbon fiber parts! Just poor QC IMO!

[TRX-1-3]

Uh, yeah,

This is 'tarded. The manufacturing process for 3d carbon weave obviously escapes the majority of folks here. Can I do it? No. But think about it for a minute... You bend and try to displace a fiber weave that, by it's nature (tensile strength), cannot be stretched. But then you want it to look perfect for your shelf queen..... But it's the folks' that wanted to make a fiber tub for us.. It's their fault for not controlling the laws of physical properties of materials? Come on man. Figure it out. Really. I'll catch hell for this, but that's what's up. Wooof.

Mark

[shodog]

Uh, yeah,

This is 'tarded. The manufacturing process for 3d carbon weave obviously escapes the majority of folks here. Can I do it? No. But think about it for a minute... You bend and try to displace a fiber weave that, by it's nature (tensile strength), cannot be stretched. But then you want it to look perfect for your shelf queen..... But it's the folks' that wanted to make a fiber tub for us.. It's their fault for not controlling the laws of physical properties of materials? Come on man. Figure it out. Really. I'll catch hell for this, but that's what's up. Wooof.

Mark

Your kidding right? There is no excuse for poor workmanship. Technology exists to make beautiful carbon fiber parts in molded shapes and with the rights cuts, can be made to conform to many tights shapes.

[TRX-1-3]

Uh, yeah,

This is 'tarded. The manufacturing process for 3d carbon weave obviously escapes the majority of folks here. Can I do it? No. But think about it for a minute... You bend and try to displace a fiber weave that, by it's nature (tensile strength), cannot be stretched. But then you want it to look perfect for your shelf queen..... But it's the folks' that wanted to make a fiber tub for us.. It's their fault for not controlling the laws of physical properties of materials? Come on man. Figure it out. Really. I'll catch hell for this, but that's what's up. Wooof.

Mark

Your kidding right? There is no excuse for poor workmanship. Technology exists to make beautiful carbon fiber parts in molded shapes and with the rights cuts, can be made to conform to many tights shapes.

Yeah, I'm pretty much an idiot. Nice bike.

[DMAT]

there are some pretty out there ways to make carbon fiber parts. just look what lexus does for the LFA

[youtube]watch?v=l4DLr8qHliI[/youtube]

Ive really never looked into making my own parts yet but from several videos, it seems like complex shapes arent made from single pieces. I think that is where many of us go wrong. its a patchwork of overlapping layers that are trimmed to fit in the shapes needed and the resin holds it all together.

[jwscab]

don't forget those bike parts are not one cloth, many layers and sections, and thick cross-section, then covered with a really thin mat to give it the 'look'. with that effort put forth into an rc10 chassis, they would be too expensive and possibly too heavy. it's economies of scale in this particular case. They probably make 20 a year. not worth the expense to invest more time and money and specialized machines in them.

if you think the job is poor, buy some mat and roll your own. I'm not defending a poor product, I'm just surprised the company was happy enough with the end product quality to sell it.

[Charlie don't surf]

Uh, yeah,

This is 'tarded. The manufacturing process for 3d carbon weave obviously escapes the majority of folks here. Can I do it? No. But think about it for a minute... You bend and try to displace a fiber weave that, by it's nature (tensile strength), cannot be stretched. But then you want it to look perfect for your shelf queen..... But it's the folks' that wanted to make a fiber tub for us.. It's their fault for not controlling the laws of physical properties of materials? Come on man. Figure it out. Really. I'll catch hell for this, but that's what's up. Wooof.

Mark

Your kidding right? There is no excuse for poor workmanship. Technology exists to make beautiful carbon fiber parts in molded shapes and with the rights cuts, can be made to conform to many tights shapes.

Yeah, I'm pretty much an idiot. Nice bike.

I'm in the middle, as far as understanding that Fiberlyte is a nice cottage industry business. That being said, i dont think comparing them to what I assume is a full scale bicycle company is equal ground, nor is the production process similar as Joe said. But Shodog does work In Aerospace composites, so I'm pretty sure he's on point too-

[shodog]

I've seen some amazing stuff made. Basically a CNC machine cuts out various shapes each allowing it to fold in ways that do not make it wrinkle of overlap upon itselt. another piece is cut and folds so it overlaps those seams. various pieces are cut in certain directions in the modulus which allow it to gain strength as a part of the whole. One of my buddies wanted to make a tub chassis and I gave him an old aluminum pan to use as a buck. I've not heard what his results were though.

[Lonestar]

A full FL set is (was) like $200... it's expensive enough

I think I will clearcoat it when I build this full carbon project of mine

[Kyoshojoe]

A guy on this forum made rc10 bodies and wings with CF and they look 10 times better than the FL tub.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=34323

Methinks Profit trumps quality at Fibrelyte. Ive heard their 2d stuff is rough on one side as well, but I have not had any experience personally.

I have worked with fiberglass roven and even though the fibers will not stretch the weave will conform somewhat and at least be flat not bunched up and clumpy.

[Charlie don't surf]

A guy on this forum made rc10 bodies and wings with CF and they look 10 times better than the FL tub.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=34323

Methinks Profit trumps quality at Fibrelyte. Ive heard their 2d stuff is rough on one side as well, but I have not had any experience personally.

I have worked with fiberglass roven and even though the fibers will not stretch the weave will conform somewhat and at least be flat not bunched up and clumpy.

Now your just being silly. Jerzi's project was really cool, but "10x better than Fiberlyte tub"? C'mon.

You've been hearing things that aren't true. FL usually has the mold on.the inside of 3d parts and uses the vacuum bag method to finish the fabric curing process on the opposite side. Every 2d part I have seen is even, and glass like finish on the resin. Custom work (yep, he's went way custom for some customers) is up to the client. Derby Dan had his ultra rare WCS chassis reproduced, and initially the vac bag side was textured, but through communication a male/female mold was created making an outstanding replica. Custom towers, etc have all been churned out per request...even for just one pair.

Was the tub ever perfect, nope. Was it claimed to be something other than what it was...nope-

[Kyoshojoe]

I stand corrected. I went back and see the pics are not a fibrelyte product and as I said have not had any experience with their products. If they are cutting 2d parts then I guess they are gonna be good on both sides. I was probably confused on the 2 d parts. sorry for any offense

[bearrickster]

I have a fL 12L chassis and its Beautiful cant speak for the tubs.