So I have quite some experience with carbon fibers I dropp my thoughts here.
First what have I done so far (with fiber reinforced resin including glas-, carbon-, aramid-, fibers including mixes of it and colored design fabric):
-recumbend frame
-Seats for recumbends (including molds)
-aerodynamic fairungs for recumbends
-rings (jewlery)
-a new backsige for the fossil wrist PDA watch (bugger battery to fit, 3xtimes the capacity with only 2 mm more in thickness)
And here are the considerations for a pandora carbon fiber case:
The original case is designed for a homogen material to fill a mold, which "should" work also (with some modificatioins) when using very short fibres (less than a 1mm in lenght), which results in a stronger case, with a dark grey (nearly black) monochrom color.
But what most people think of when it comes tocarbn fiberis something like this:
http://engineering.iberobike.com/files/2013/09/Carbon-Bicycle-Frame.jpg
(maybe with smaller patterns of the fibre). To get this finish mostly 2 tricks are done: 1. the firbre you see is most likely some sort of decoration on top of the supporting structure (well not only, but does not that much to it). 2. there are parts "hidden" by plain black color (the bottom braket e.g.).
Both is done, because the supporting structure most likely looks like this:
http://taloncycling.com/resources/TriBike+front.jpg
And believe me this is one of the EVERY goodlooking parts.
So when/if one tries to do a pandora carbon case, there are certain thinks to consider:
-fibers don't like to get bend around sharp edges
-they even like less to fill very tiny structures. In fact they most of the time just don't do it (and due to the way the case is produced, it has a lot of these)
So a carbon case means, you have to design the case compleedly different from the existing one.
Rules for that:
-lowest number of parts you can think of
-flat and smooth as possible
-avoid tiny complitated scructures
So what as to to be sacrified for the carbon case (some are more a guess based on my experience, which are far from professional, as in experience and tools/equipment. But still also far from beginners):
-toolless change of battery. Think open up the bottom of the case shoud work. Alternatively: slide it in/out through a rectangular hole in the side of the case.
-arrester in the hinge (I think of some sort of releasable friction here
-nice carbon look on the key/controll surface (well, you know there are more holes than material). Could be either visible straight fibers or colored resin (needs some tries)
and all the things that happens on the way.
But I think it's worth a try, if there is some interest (at least 10 persons I think). As an idea: to get a working mold for the abacus, I had 3-4 molds, which don't worked an went to trash.
Just let me know, if there is some interest to start that chalange
First what have I done so far (with fiber reinforced resin including glas-, carbon-, aramid-, fibers including mixes of it and colored design fabric):
-recumbend frame
-Seats for recumbends (including molds)
-aerodynamic fairungs for recumbends
-rings (jewlery)
-a new backsige for the fossil wrist PDA watch (bugger battery to fit, 3xtimes the capacity with only 2 mm more in thickness)
And here are the considerations for a pandora carbon fiber case:
The original case is designed for a homogen material to fill a mold, which "should" work also (with some modificatioins) when using very short fibres (less than a 1mm in lenght), which results in a stronger case, with a dark grey (nearly black) monochrom color.
But what most people think of when it comes tocarbn fiberis something like this:
http://engineering.iberobike.com/files/2013/09/Carbon-Bicycle-Frame.jpg
(maybe with smaller patterns of the fibre). To get this finish mostly 2 tricks are done: 1. the firbre you see is most likely some sort of decoration on top of the supporting structure (well not only, but does not that much to it). 2. there are parts "hidden" by plain black color (the bottom braket e.g.).
Both is done, because the supporting structure most likely looks like this:
http://taloncycling.com/resources/TriBike+front.jpg
And believe me this is one of the EVERY goodlooking parts.
So when/if one tries to do a pandora carbon case, there are certain thinks to consider:
-fibers don't like to get bend around sharp edges
-they even like less to fill very tiny structures. In fact they most of the time just don't do it (and due to the way the case is produced, it has a lot of these)
So a carbon case means, you have to design the case compleedly different from the existing one.
Rules for that:
-lowest number of parts you can think of
-flat and smooth as possible
-avoid tiny complitated scructures
So what as to to be sacrified for the carbon case (some are more a guess based on my experience, which are far from professional, as in experience and tools/equipment. But still also far from beginners):
-toolless change of battery. Think open up the bottom of the case shoud work. Alternatively: slide it in/out through a rectangular hole in the side of the case.
-arrester in the hinge (I think of some sort of releasable friction here
-nice carbon look on the key/controll surface (well, you know there are more holes than material). Could be either visible straight fibers or colored resin (needs some tries)
and all the things that happens on the way.
But I think it's worth a try, if there is some interest (at least 10 persons I think). As an idea: to get a working mold for the abacus, I had 3-4 molds, which don't worked an went to trash.
Just let me know, if there is some interest to start that chalange
