Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Why doesn't the carbon fiber nylon material look like carbon fiber?
A - Our "carbon fiber nylon" is micro carbon fiber-filled nylon. This means that the carbon fibers are tiny slivers that are added to the nylon filament when it is produced (in the USA by the way). It does not have the appearance of what you may typically see with a woven carbon fiber cloth but does improve the strength. It’s 1.4 times stronger and stiffer than ABS, and 11 times stiffer when reinforced with continuous fiber (not all our products have continuous fiber reinforcement). With the proper continuous fiber reinforcement, we can create parts as strong as 6061-T6 Aluminum. This material has an excellent surface finish, chemical resistivity, and heat tolerance.
Q - What makes your products better than other 3D printed products?
A - Although other makers produce some great items, we use an industrial-grade 3D printer for our carbon fiber nylon parts. At a cost of over $20,000, it produces parts with a much better surface finish than consumer-grade 3D printers. We also have the ability to reinforce the carbon fiber nylon internally (when needed) with layers of continuous fiber (stranded carbon fiber, Kevlar, or Fiberglass) giving it an aluminum-like strength.
This print was stopped after the layers of continuous Kevlar fiber were printed (ironed into) the internal structure to show what they look like.
Note also the internal grid structure that provides strength while maintaining rigidity.
Reinforcement options include continuous carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass.
Q - Can I drill and tap the carbon fiber material?
A - No. The 3D printed carbon fiber parts have a solid outside layer, but the inside is a hollow honeycomb-like grid. The majority of the strength is carried along the outside surface. It is not recommended to modify the parts. Please contact us if you need modifications, we're always looking to improve our designs.