The value of carbon fiber

[xrocket21]

Just the opposite.

For some reason ive seen people on here think that light parts arent needed on a heavy vehicle and it REALLY doesnt make sense to me... Basically the opposite of what is true

 

[goblues38]

the raptor at 5k pounds.....is beyond making light with carbon fibre

 

[Gary E]

...I think carbon fiber's biggest drawback is similar to fiberglass or plastic in any structural components, when things break it become extremely costly to repair since it typically means full panel replacements and/or anything that's adjacent depending on damage. Ya can't weld/shape/bend/solder/cut/rivet/drill carbon fiber like you can AL & FE...

Having worked in composites for decades, I can say just the opposite. Composites (carbon fiber, fiberglass, Nomex honeycomb, rigid foams, aluminum composites, micro, flox, vacuum bagging, molds, etc.) are as easy or easier to repair than metals. Also, unlike metals, they can be easily formed into any shape. They can be utilized for either structural or cosmetic purposes.

 

[Gary E]

the raptor at 5k pounds.....is beyond making light with carbon fibre

Not so. Just depends how far someone wants to go. Replacing small interior parts is never going to get there though, and most likely they are doing those for cosmetic reasons, not weight reasons.

 

[EricM]

Not so. Just depends how far someone wants to go. Replacing small interior parts is never going to get there though, and most likely they are doing those for cosmetic reasons, not weight reasons.

What are you going to replace with CF to lighten up an 15+ F150 in a significant way? All the "big ticket" weight is in the drive train, suspension, brakes, seats and glass. Good luck getting CF versions of any of that. Body parts are aluminum, so not much to be gained replacing anything on the body.

 

[Gary E]

What are you going to replace with CF to lighten up an 15+ F150 in a significant way? All the "big ticket" weight is in the drive train, suspension, brakes, seats and glass. Good luck getting CF versions of any of that. Body parts are aluminum, so not much to be gained replacing anything on the body.

Can't get it, make it. That's what's nice about composites. You listed several items that can be done in carbon fiber.

Less than 2 decades ago, carbon fiber aircraft props were unheard of. Today, it is nearly becoming the standard. Replacing metals with composites is easily underestimated.

 

[SilverBolt]

Has anyone done an actual weight comparison? The problem with most "street" CF is that it isn't always any lighter than the parts they replace. Carbon replacement parts for production vehicles are usually hand laid similar to fiberglass. The only possible weight savings will be in the carbon fabric vs the glass fabric. Where the real weight savings and strength of CF come in is typically in racing applications. The difference? In racing and structural applications the CF is either vacu-bagged and or setup in an autoclave (heat and pressure). Vacu-bagged draws the resin deep into the fabric and pulls off excess resin. Less resin and higher strength than hand laid. Autoclave has a similar result but using pressure and heat instead of vacuum.

I would venture to guess that if you replaced every possible part and panel currently available in CF your weight savings would be negligible. Now if you replaced every possible part with race glass/CF you could shed some significant weight.

Most CF for production vehicles is just expensive cool looking fiberglass. Little to no increase in strength and little weight savings.

A good morning dump will save you more weight.

 

[Gary E]

Has anyone done an actual weight comparison? The problem with most "street" CF is that it isn't always any lighter than the parts they replace. Carbon replacement parts for production vehicles are usually hand laid similar to fiberglass. The only possible weight savings will be in the carbon fabric vs the glass fabric. Where the real weight savings and strength of CF come in is typically in racing applications. The difference? In racing and structural applications the CF is either vacu-bagged and or setup in an autoclave (heat and pressure). Vacu-bagged draws the resin deep into the fabric and pulls off excess resin. Less resin and higher strength than hand laid. Autoclave has a similar result but using pressure and heat instead of vacuum.

I would venture to guess that if you replaced every possible part and panel currently available in CF your weight savings would be negligible. Now if you replaced every possible part with race glass/CF you could shed some significant weight.

Most CF for production vehicles is just expensive cool looking fiberglass. Little to no increase in strength and little weight savings.

A good morning dump will save you more weight.

I personally have saved more than 10X of a "good morning dump" on the last project vehicle (street utilized) utilizing carbon fiber, chromoly, alloys, and fiberglass in place of mild steel.

Looking at the glass parts on the Gen1 Raptor indicates that they are not hand laid as you presented.

 

[melvimbe]

Thank you, @melvimbe , for your question. It needed asking in a bad way and is long overdue here.

There is a certain amount of personalization that people are lead to do when they buy something new. It's understandable to a limited extent. But going to exorbitant expense to achieve no improvement in function or performance is no different from peeing on a tree to mark territory. If you think you've got a problem to solve, that's dandy. But buying CF or chrome or black chrome or gold plate simply because you can show it off is nothing other than vanity - in this case ostentatious male vanity. One might as well hang a string of pearls on the rear view mirror - it's no different.

CF is far from the only thing on the truck that's vanity though. Obviously, the decals aren't functional. Much of the styling isn't functional. A lot is, but even so, most/many of the folks who buy a raptor aren't going to utilize that function. This place is obviously an exception, but much of what's discussed here is non-function related.

And to be clear, I put myself in the category of folks who won't utilize the functionality. I know way too little, and will do way too little offroading. No doubt a normal 4-wheel drive would have been just fine for me, but I wanted the Raptor for the look and comfort features.

Anyway, I do have the CF package, but I bought mine used. When I was looking at new, I was actually avoiding CF, as I didn't care for it too much as was avoiding it. Since getting it, it's grown on me a little bit. The dash, sfiter, and console hatch cover (whatever it's called) look good.

The door panels look odd to me. I particularly don't like the silver edges. It feels like it breaks up the horizontal flow of the door. I get the impression that the designers added that area (whether CF or not) because the door looked like a big piece of plastic without it. That and perhaps they saw it as a way to add another costly option to the truck.

 

[melvimbe]

I personally have saved more than 10X of a "good morning dump" on the last project vehicle (street utilized) utilizing carbon fiber, chromoly, alloys, and fiberglass in place of mild steel.
.

Or maybe his morning dumps are 10x bigger than yours?