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Originally Posted by duky
Do we know why the new structural design required a different aesthetic design?
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In my limited carbon fiber research I found that the larger mesh is stronger. Unsure if this pattern costs less it more, or if the process is less or more costly.
Edit:. When watching the BMW carbon fiber roof production process there is a scene where they throw away the leftover fabric. The large weave pattern can clearly identified. My guess is that this weave is used in the other roofs, but not as much of it.
Found some more info.
Spread tow carbon fiber is a very specific design of fabric, and the rarest seen of all we will discuss. Spread tow means that the filaments of carbon ranging from 3,000 to 12,000 per tow are laid out next to each other for the thinnest ribbon of carbon. Conventional tows are bunched up with many layers of carbon filaments. Spread tow fabrics are identified by large open patterns. The checkerboard pattern of a bidirectional carbon fiber, with spread tow construction, may have squares measuring one inch across.
Because the large tow size forces a looser pattern, the over-under weave points are spread apart. By spreading apart the tow crossover, the frequency of direction change is greatly reduced, and the fabric can lay much more flat over a surface.
As described by Easy Composites, a UK based supplier of materials and resins, “Spread tow fabrics are gaining popularity in advanced composites applications because of their incredibly flat profile which almost eliminates ‘print through’ or texturing of precise surfaces (like aircraft wings).”
Because the resulting plies of fabric are so much thinner, more layers must be employed to achieve the same strength. Often used in applications where aerodynamics are a priority over strength,
spread tow carbon fiber has a distinct aesthetic that people either love, or hate.
https://www.turnology.com/tech-stori...in-composites/
https://www.compositesworld.com/arti...-of-spread-tow
Cost seems highly dependent upon fabric weight. For equal weight fabric the spread toe is less expensive.
https://store.acpsales.com/categorie...-carbon-fiber-
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