Carbon Fibre tube supplier?

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Friedn of mine is looking for a carbon fibre tube 1.6m long by 400mm dia. Astronomy application, any ideas of suppliers?

Thanks

Stuart

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

[Ralph HParticipant @ralphh]

Try Hardy's and Grey's Ltd http://www.hardyfishing.com/en-gb/home/

or Attwater and Sons http://www.attwater.com/.

I can recommend both as they are suppliers to the firm I work for.They should be be able to advise you on a solution.

Edited By Ralph H on 05/08/2015 22:19:38

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

By coincidence 10 minutes ago I sent an email for a quote for a c/f tube. Its a company I have bought custom tubes from for several years now and have always been very satisfied. (no connection to me)

They are http://www.Tri-cast.co.uk

Ian P

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Ian Phillips on 05/08/2015 22:27:30:

By coincidence 10 minutes ago I sent an email for a quote for a c/f tube. Its a company I have bought custom tubes from for several years now and have always been very satisfied. (no connection to me)

They are http://www.Tri-cast.co.uk

Ian P

PS I think they do up to 1m diameter at least

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

That's a serious bit of composite tubing – your friend will likely need deep pockets. Is carbon fibre necessary, would glass fibre do the job?

I would guess you'd be looking at a custom made tube, either filament wound or laid up from pre-preg sheet, if you can find a company that bcan do that sort of size you might have to alter the diameter a bit to make use of an existing former, a custom mandrel wouild be very expensive – ours were and they were only about 150mm diameter.and shorter than you're looking for.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Keith Long on 05/08/2015 22:32:56:

… Is carbon fibre necessary, would glass fibre do the job?

.

Keith,

If it's for a telescope OTA, then carbon's near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion is very desirable.

MichaelG.

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

I fully realised that Michael

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Thanks for the suggestions

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Keith Long on 05/08/2015 23:10:13:

I fully realised that Michael

.

My apologies, Keith … no slight intended.

It's only a fine line between 'necessary' and 'very desirable'

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Stuart,

It's interesting to see that Orion Optics is using 'sandwich construction'

… 'though I'm not aware what core material is used.

See also, this page from DreamScopes

MichaelG.

.

Edit: This might be of interest.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/08/2015 06:21:39

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/08/2015 06:28:46

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 06/08/2015 06:18:40:

Stuart,

It's interesting to see that Orion Optics is using 'sandwich construction'

.

Oops … that link seems to be wrong … Try this

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Stuart

Would 372.97mm internal diameter be big enough?

I have a list of mandrel sizes that Tri-cast use and this one at 900mm long seems to be the nearest.

Wall thickness can be whatever you want, most of mine have been between 3 and 6mm

Ian P

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Would think the "Meat" is either honeycomb or extruded (Blue) foam.

Regards Ian.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Circlip on 06/08/2015 11:16:28:

Would think the "Meat" is either honeycomb or extruded (Blue) foam.

Regards Ian.

.

Very likely, Ian

I should probably have been more explicit, and written:

"… 'though I'm not aware what core material is used by Orion in these particular tubes."

MichaelG.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

There is a company in Runcorn called Sigmatex. (I did some work for them back in my sparking days)

They weave CF in a large number of widths and weights from something resembling fine silk to course mesh. I remember them telling me at the time that they supplied 90% of the F1 teams and a number of aircraft manufacturers. I also remember them telling me that it was also used to produce helicopter blades and to do this the weave layers were placed in varying directions and a mixture of course and fine fabrics.

They seemed quite open and approachable people. You may be able to purchase a 'roll end' off them and combined with a former make your own. ….. Possibly.!

Failing that, I would be surprised if they were not able to point you in the right direction of such a tube supplier.

Regards, Nick

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Suitable tubes are available here

… wrong side of the pond, I presume.

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