I think Lexan is kinda heavy and not very stiff. Through structurally I'm sure it is superior to Chocolate Fiber. :D
-Chris

In Rice subculture, lexan/plexiglass hoods are the new Bling Thing

Yes, and a new trend is see-through hoods made of clear lexan.
Hmm... makes me wonder... How about making a see-through Porsche? Check out cstreit's post here to see what that would look like:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/86444-911-photoshop-pictures.html

:D :D

Lexan??? like a radio control car body??

that would be cool...one giant blow molded body structure, held on with little cotter pins. clear, paint from inside.

sjd

Lexan is just a GE brand name. Try searching for Polycarbonate.
Not a very light material but excellent impact resistance. Within the last year we built the new wrap around style foot ball helmet molds. Maybe good for the NACAR guys.
:rolleyes:

Janus-

If you want a little insight into cf/plastics fabrication (before you waste a lot of money) find your nearest university that has competed in a solar powered vehicle competiton or similar. Often the students will go for light weight and strength (duh) and use carbon fiber/kevlar weave materials layed up over a foam core for the frame, which in turn are vacuum bagged (as opposed to using a giant autoclave) such that the adhesives will cure void free. Something similar could be done to fabricate body panels...you could shape 16-20lb. rate modeling foam and lay up your materials inside/over that. Big big molds tho... One nice thing about the cf approach is you can integrate all of your mounting holes/bushings/hardware right into each panel.

And if you're going to do that, build your front fenders and hood together, so the whole thing can be lifted off as one unit...

carbon fiber=brittle but stiff
kevlar= flexible but impact resistant
carbon fiber/kevlar weave= the best of both?
Titanum= heavier than you think

Good luck...I think....

"...use carbon fiber/kevlar weave materials layed up over a foam core for the frame, which in turn are vacuum bagged (as opposed to using a giant autoclave) such that the adhesives will cure void free. Something similar could be done to fabricate body panels..."

Exactly, yes. That is my current fantasy. I've got some carbon/kevlar on order as well as some pure carbon fiber. Also found a source for vacuum bagging supplies. The lexan thing just came up while doing more research into exotic materials.

"And if you're going to do that, build your front fenders and hood together, so the whole thing can be lifted off as one unit..."

Oooh, yeah. I didn't think of that. Good call.

"5axis: Lexan is just a GE brand name. Try searching for Polycarbonate. Not a very light material but excellent impact resistance. Within the last year we built the new wrap around style foot ball helmet molds. Maybe good for the NACAR guys."

Thanks for the info. I did a search on polycarbonate and discovered that this stuff is not, it seems, molded in resin form. Instead, it is "thermoset" (i.e. sheets are heated until soft and then draped onto a mold?). Is this the way you made the football helmets?

"atlporsche: Lexan??? like a radio control car body??"

Yeah, baby, yeah !! That's what I'm talkin' about !!

"Hmm... makes me wonder... How about making a see-through Porsche?...In Rice subculture, lexan/plexiglass hoods are the new Bling Thing"

Hmmm...my car already has a bit too much ricey styling. Making it see through might get me kicked off the Pelican BBS... :rolleyes:

"ChrisBennet I think Lexan is kinda heavy and not very stiff. Through structurally I'm sure it is superior to Chocolate Fiber"

And, of course, as you know, resistance to intense heat (read: FIRE) is becoming more important to me these days. So does Lexan melt at a higher temperature than chocolate? And hey, got any pics of that snazzy Ti gas pedal?

I'll be sure to call you after I put the GT2 wing on my 912...

sjd
superbling.

Adobe!

Titanium has quite a few <b><i>'quirks'</b></i> that have to be dealt with fabricating for maximum durability and strength!

I have an old book with some pics of TIG welding during the building of Gemini spacecraft at the McDonald-Douglas factory -- a 'glove box' enclosing the work area was used, with the atmosphere being 100% Argon!

Lockheed discovered during production of the A-12/SR-71A that trace amounts of chlorine in the rinse water after 'pickling' of small components made stress cracks very likely to form and all production parts rinsed in chlorine-treated water were scrapped. Also, Cadmium-plated wrenches were <b><i>verbotten</b></i> because of corrosion at the point of any scratches made with Cadmium plating ... and subsequent cracking! Likewise, pencil marks were forbidden, too, for the same reason! Engine nacelle parts aft subject to high heat ... just cracked and fell off at the points where pencil marks were discovered!

Not sure about that, but a bumper sticker I once saw is starting to make sense: "Friends don't let friends drive naked" :D