Carbon fiber, also known as graphite fiber, carbon graphite, referred to as CF (Carbon Fiber). It is a microcrystalline graphite material obtained by piling up flake graphite microcrystals and other organic fibers along the fiber axial direction, and undergoing carbonization and graphitization treatments. Carbon fiber is used in places where mechanical properties need to be improved, and can be combined with resin, ceramic, metal and other composite materials. We usually say CFRP, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, which is a composite material of carbon fiber and resin, and it is also carbon fiber in a narrow sense.
Due to the particularity of carbon fiber materials, which are generally relatively hard and lightweight, carbon fiber is currently being widely used in aircraft, high-end automotive and other industries. Although carbon fiber products are more expensive, you only need to make a high-quality carbon fiber mold to get mass production.
How to manufacture carbon fiber mold?
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First of all, before starting to make carbon fiber molds, our engineering team will make a feasibility on carbon fiber products and evaluate what type of materials to use for carbon fiber mold? Knowing about customers' requirements for the surface gloss of carbon fiber parts?
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Making the mold schedule and designing the carbon fiber mold. After we understand these specific requirements, we will design 2D and 3D for carbon fiber molds. Our experienced Team of Engineers work with the latest Engineering tools and software helping you construct a quality plastic part. In the period of carbon fiber mold design process, we will think about the temperature, thermal expansion, strength, and rigidity, as well as the molding process. In particular, the large carbon fiber molds must have sufficient strength to meet molding process requirements, and keep dimensional stability.
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Mold milling. After approval the final 3D design of the carbon fiber mold with the customer, MDC Mould will officially start making the mold. MDC will use high-quality milling machines to mill mold, in order to ensure high accuracy of carbon fiber molds. Advanced equipment enables us to do every detail well. MDC is committed in developing mould with higher precision, better rigidity, more durability and higher technological content.
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Molding trial of the new mold, this is a very important step, it can show possible problems, then make improvements until you can produce the good carbon fiber parts. MDC Mould has 500T, 1250T, 2000T, 4000T pressing machines for mold try out.
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Sample checking and mold checking. To ensure the best tool quality, MDC Mold has advanced measuring equipment and apparatus such as triple coordinate measuring apparatus to show the quality aspects of every product, process, standards, in fact the base of our quality control.
which carbon fiber mold is best?
When manufacturing carbon fiber molds or products, we will make every effort to ensure the highest quality molding process and the highest aesthetics.
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The first is the design of the carbon fiber mold. The parting surface of the mold is an important factor that determines the mold structure. The mold structure can be semi-closed. The mold contains upper and lower molds (ie, female and male molds) and mold cores.
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In order to successfully eject the carbon fiber parts from the cavity intact, a reasonable demoulding mechanism is critical.
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Ensure the tightness of the carbon fiber mold. During the vacuum process, the adhesion of the carbon fiber can be made tighter, and the quality of the product can be guaranteed.
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The accuracy of the mold cavity size, the precision of the upper and lower molds, the smooth inner surface, low roughness, no dust and dirt;
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The strength and stiffness will not be deformed under the injection pressure, and the general mold is a steel mold or an aluminum mold.
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There is a certain heating device, which can heat the mold to a certain temperature (60-120 ℃), the temperature distribution of the mold is uniform, and the temperature can be detected and adjusted.
Carbon fiber molding steps:
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Preparations: Cutting and laying prepreg, carbon fiber mold and other supporting work, and clean up the carbon fiber mold to avoid dust and debris residue. Then apply a release agent after ensuring that the mold is clean and smooth to prevent the product from sticking to the mold too tightly after molding. The pre-prepared carbon fiber prepregs are superimposed layer by layer and pre-compacted to form a dense solid with a regular shape.
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Mold filling and curing: Placing the stacked raw materials into the mold, closing the mold, applying certain pressure, temperature and setting curing time;
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Cooling and demolding: Cooling the mold after hot pressing treatment for a period of time to the mold, then opening the mold for demolding treatment;
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Processing and forming: The carbon fiber part after demolding needs to be cleaned, scrape off the remaining raw materials with a steel brush or copper brush, and polish the formed carbon fiber parts to make the surface smooth and tidy.
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NDT and Final Inspection: According to production requirements, measure the size and accuracy of carbon fiber parts, and carefully check for product defects.
MDC is a leading compression mould company and a high-quality carbon fiber mold supplier. We have professional knowledge in carbon fiber molding technology. MDC manufacture molded parts for a variety of automotive, aerospace, industrial, robotic and medical applications. Our molded parts are made of 100% carbon fiber and vacuum injected with epoxy resin. Other cutting, drilling and finishing can be included as needed to provide you with complete carbon fiber parts.
MDC Mould, as a professional maker of carbon fiber mold in china, has worked with many tier-one molders for Car manufacturers on carbon fiber mold projects.
In the Automotive industry, MDC Mould has collaborated with Qiantu Motor company who developed a new Energy Electric Vehicle. All visible parts are based on Carbon Fiber material with Autoclave & Compression molding technology. Right now, MDC Mould has produced many molds for carbon fiber molding with the Autoclave technology, and compression molding technology, include automotive interior brackets, aircraft seat panels, and aircraft seats.