Interesting stuff. According to a Chinese manufacturer, they can make this stuff in carbon fiber. The only other manufacture I have found is in the Netherlands. http://www.parabeam.nl/
One question I have with this product is how do you keep the space between the two fabrics from saturating completely full of resin? If it did this, it would be very heavy. The Chinese site says it is possible to use pour foam to fill those voids in the Parabeam glass, but that isn't the normal use. Here is a photo of the glass from the side: http://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/parabeam-bv/fiberglass-fabrics-3d-26847-18898 8.html I think what is intended is just enough glass to fill those vertical looping weaves but it sure does seam to me it would easily puddle inside and cause the product to be very heavy. Any ideas on this? Also, from what I have read it will not do sharp corners well. Long gradual curves are no problem, but I would guess the issue is the inner fabric would buckle if trying to lay it into a sharp curved area of a female mold. Guessing here that the thin stuff would do a sharper radius than the thick stuff. Looks like there should be a chart somewhere to use as a guideline for this problem and there may be.... Though I am not building a KR, this group always talk about the most interesting things and that is why I continue to read the daily postings. Thank You! Kevin Golden Harrisonville, MO Streak Shadow In a message dated 2/10/2014 8:24:43 A.M. Central Standard Time, brian.kraut at eamanufacturing.com writes: I was wondering why they seem to have never done it in carbon fiber also. Might just not be able to weave it correctly and get the spring back. So far I found some large rolls on Ebay that work out to about $18/yard, but it is the 1/2" thick stuff that is probably too thick for anything I would want to do with it. Sounds high, but when compared with multiple layers of glass and a core material it might not be that bad. They make it from 3mm to 22mm thick. I would think the 3mm would be best for something like a cowl or wheel pants and something in the 1/4" range would be good for something like wing skins. I sent a request on the web site for some samples and more info. I will let you know what I find out. Sam said that he does not know of anyone else using it. I would think that it would have limited use for homebuilders except when used in a mold. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: KR> Parabeam 3D fabric From: "Mark Langford" <ml at n56ml.com> List-Post: krnet@list.krnet.org Date: Sun, February 09, 2014 8:45 pm To: "KRnet" <krnet at list.krnet.org> Brian Kraut wrote: > Supposedly the resin goes to the outside layers and leaves an air space > in the middle so it winds up like a foam or Nomex core material that is > light and very strong. Mark Lougheed and I looked at Parabeam back in the 90's, and it was impressively strong but lightweight, but also very expensive. Let me know when you find a price. I haven't heard anything about it lately (it was new back then), so I figured it's been displaced by carbon fiber on Nomex, but it probably has a niche with homebuilders... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com -------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options
