What to Send When You Order Custom Carbon Fiber Parts
Most quoting delays come from missing information, not from difficult parts. Here is the set of details that lets a composite supplier quote in one pass.
Geometry, in a Usable Form
A STEP or IGES model is best. A 2D drawing works if it is dimensioned completely. Photographs alone are enough only for a copy of an existing part, and even then the original part itself is better.
For automotive trim the original component matters more than the data, because the internal mounting geometry is what decides whether the part fits.
The Load Case, Not Just the Shape
Say what the part has to do. Bending, torsion, impact, or purely cosmetic - each points at a different fibre architecture and a different moulding route.
If there is a deflection limit or a weight target, state the number. A specification of light and strong cannot be engineered against.
Quantity and Timing
Quantity changes the process. One piece is a prototype; two hundred justifies tooling. Minimum order quantities vary by product - one piece for steering wheel parts, ten pieces for mirror cases.
Sample orders are usually shipped within one week. Normal orders take 15 to 25 days. Delivery on top of that depends on the shipping mode chosen.
Finish and Appearance
State the weave and the finish: plain or twill, matte or glossy, or forged carbon for a marbled pattern. On painted parts, say whether a bright or matte appearance is wanted.
Mark which faces and edges are cosmetic. This one line on a drawing prevents most appearance disputes later.
Tolerances That Mean Something
Mark the datums and the dimensions that actually have to be held. Assembly-grade parts can be produced to plus or minus 0.01 mm where required, but applying that across a whole part is expensive and usually unnecessary.
Shipping and Aftercare
Small quantities usually go by international express or air freight - DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, EMS or ARAMEX. Large quantities go by sea to save cost. You can also decide which shipping agent to use.
If a product does not meet the agreed specification it is accepted back and remade at no extra charge. If a product is damaged in shipping for a non-artificial reason it is replaced without extra charge, on provision of photographs or video of the shipping box and the damaged item.
Parts Referenced Above
Carbon Fiber Structural Arm
A full carbon fiber arm made as a verification sample, carrying the strength and stiffness of a production composite part so the structure can be tested before a mould is cut.
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Carbon Fiber Rearview Mirror Case
Replacement mirror caps in real carbon fiber, moulded to the original mounting geometry so they clip back onto the car, from a minimum order of ten pieces.
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Carbon Fiber Sheet
Stock carbon fiber plates fabricated from multiple layers of high strength prepreg under high pressure moulding, in ten thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm at 500 x 400 mm.
View detailsRelated Technical Guides
Why Verify a Composite Part Before You Cut the Mould
Tooling is the irreversible step in a composite programme. A full carbon fiber sample lets you test strength, rigidity and precision while changes still cost machining time instead of tooling money.
Read the guide
Machining Carbon Fiber Plate and Tube to Print
Stock plate and tube become finished parts through CNC milling or waterjet cutting. What you mark on the drawing decides whether the result looks engineered or unfinished.
Read the guideHave a Part You Want Reviewed
Email the drawing and the load case. The engineering team will say which material and process the part actually needs before you commit.