Yes Big Pines and Rawbuilder I have actually had a chance to see that process done. I think its the best but then again we are talking kit car bodies. I think the process has to be somewhat simple and efficient to keep the prices within the realm of the average Joe. Talking about myself. I do like the wet layup for the carbon fiber and also using vinylester for my cars but I would probably produce additional pieces in random mat and polyester resin which is fine for what we do. In my humble opinion.
I have recently had a chance to tour a kit car manufacturer, aerospace manufacturer and Viking Pools manufacture plant north of Sacramento. All were so different and yet so much alike. The aerospace manufacture was producing wind turbine generator blades. Just incredible work.
vacuum bagging with a top layer of cf and the rest of the layers in glass would be efficient in terms of cost, look, and finish of part. I myself have started getting into vacuum bagging with cf, its alot of fun.
Vacuum bagging is better than standard wet layup for sure but in my mind, why not just do infusion? It is cheaper because it uses less resin, the parts are lighter, stronger and have a better surface quality. I don't see much of a downside compared to standard vacuum bagging. The only extra complexity is one resin hose.
I personally don't understand the practice of doing carbon-glass mix. You have the added expense of carbon without the strength of pure carbon and you get most the weight of glass. If you are purely doing a dress part, you could make an argument for it I guess but I wouldn't bother. Carbon isn't *THAT* expensive. You'd be so much better off using carbon with a foam core.
Mike
