Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

[bucky7680]

I need to mount a device to a 1? thick Formica covered plywood table. The device is solid carbon fiber. The purchase points are 2? x 18? x 8? tall. I would like to drill from the bottom of the table up into the carbon fiber then tap the carbon fiber for a stainless steel ?? 20 bolt. I have never worked with carbon fiber before. Can I use a standard drill and tap? Is there a chance of it splitting? How much resistance can I expect when I drill into the carbon fiber? How much torque can I apply to the carbon fiber? What do I need to consider? This is a $20,000+ piece of equipment, even though it has no moving parts, so I want to get it correct the first time.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Carbon fibre is close to fiberglass.....in character......you must use a piece of tape on drill spot .....to stop spidering,,,,,,,drill the carbon first then other materials....not the other way around unless you want to start over PRACTICE

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

I suggest you widen your search for advice to the world of Google, the device manufacturer, and auto racing fabrication folks. You may find that it drills fine with a different drill point geometry, for example. Chip

 

[robert graham]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Any way to drill through the table and the device and use a bolt and a nut to fasten it down?...sorta like fastening the outboard motor to a fiberglass boat transom. If you have to use the tapping of the carbon method maybe use some cement or epoxy in addition to the bolt, to ensure it doesn't pull loose, depending on the amount of stress on your carbon device. The "glue it and screw it" method works well in boats, furniture, etc. Good Luck!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

my experience has always been threaded inserts in carbon fiber. Carbon fiber would need sacrificial fibers for drilling. tapping on the other hand would be difficult, as there would not be much strength around the holes. My experience cutting carbon fiber sheets required use of a water jet to get a good edge

I would contact the device manufacturer about proper mounting methods.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Would drill with brad point and put an incert in with epoxy

 

[robert graham]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

A $20K Carbon Fiber device on a Formica/Plywood table?....maybe a better/different table?....

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

A $20K Carbon Fiber device on a Formica/Plywood table?....maybe a better/different table?....

Actually the device manufacturer was going to charge us $10,000, yes those are the correct number of zeros, for the same table top. I had a cabinet shop do it for $300 and mounted it myself in 1 hour. As if that isn’t enough that table top fits on a $9,000 gurney. Now you know why medical costs are so high. I could get a nice truck to pull my boat for the total cost of this part of the project.

The manufacturer’s rep has already attached the device in the middle by drilling and taping and used two 3/16” bolts. We want to bolt it down on either end with ?” bolts to make sure it is more secure.

I’ll head to the hardware store this weekend to see what types of drill bits are available. My main concern is I do not want to crack or blow out the carbon fiber.

I need to get this device operational by Monday May 21.

I appreciate your responses.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Here watch this video to understand the making of carbon fibre parts.....if you can fiberglass it's quite similar just different release agent and resin.......the car parts that we have to drill ,we tape both sides,the exposed top forsure.....since when the drill goes threw you could scratch your finish with the drill.......not the bit the drill itself slams the carbon fibre when you break threw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAdVO8Rkv6c&feature=related
You say your attaching the corbon fibre part well drill the part it attaches to ....install a threaded insert with epoxy.....then install your carbon fibre part mark the holes then take off drill your holes in the carbon fibre ....then install it.....with your screws .....its easy

 

[JB]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Way back when I was kart racing and building/modifying engines I cast some accessories from epoxy/glass wool. I was able to drill and tap those things. . . manifolds, reed cages, bypass adapters and the like. I agree with the suggestions for taping, etc. but don't have any experience with carbon fiber or the resins used.

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Thanks for the replies. This Forum is a great resourse for ideas.

I'm going to attempt it this weekend. I bought a new tap/drill. If that does not work I'll epoxy some inserts in and attach to them. It never occurred to me to look on YouTube.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

After I wrote my reply I had a Doh moment.......you could drill threw the carbon fibre while attached to the table ......the size of your attachment bolts ......that would give you a pilot hole in the counter......take the carbon fibre piece off then drill for your inserts ....the pilot hole there you have to increase for the insert .......drill for treaded insert epoxy the insert ......drop the carbon fibre piece back on and attach with bolts......then you only have the holes in the carbon fibre much easier......less room for mistakes

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

May I humbly ask what this is? Not that it matters or that I can help, just wondering...

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Carbon fibre you ask or what

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

I meant what is the OP working on. Sounds spiffy if it's carbon fiber and $30K.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Don't exactly know just hope he doesn't work for Al katta

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

May I humbly ask what this is? Not that it matters or that I can help, just wondering...

This device is called a pod mould my patients will be laying in it. It is used to form a custom immobilization insert for a patient who will be undergoing precision radiation therapy for Cancer in the thorax or pelvic area. This insert is installed in a similar device which is indexed and locked onto a robotic treatment table. (You don’t want to know what that cost) The overall purpose is to have a treatment tolerance of 0.5mm. This is a Beta Test. we will be taking this technology from the design/research phase and putting it in the Real World. As with all new technologies Real World issues do not manifest themselves until they are put to use by the people, like myself, on the ground who will be working with this equipment. My job is to facilitate this transition and look for ways to improve upon it. This is my first issue that I have had to deal with. I do not want any movement that will cause a patient to fall when they are entering or exiting the device. The People who have more letters after their names then I do did a great job of designing this overall system.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Drill/Tap Carbon Fiber

Hey let us know what you did to fix up your problem so many don't.....thanks eh ....will help alot for others....many around here get help but never follow up to tell the outcome very selfish not bto educate others`searching for the same problem on the net''''guerss its called self gradifcation .....screw the resest of the` world