It was testing time for the chassis beam samples that we laminated a few days ago.

First the bare control sample: it weighs 4.5lbs and ~9 degrees of twist. That's a 30lb weight out 24" on the arm.


Next the fiberglass sample: 5.5lbs and ~4 degrees of twist

Finally the fiberglass/carbon combo: 5.7lbs and ~2 degrees twist.

So, it's settled ... will will use the fiberglass and carbon combo. 5.8oz cloth and 70 layers of 12k carbon tow wrapped diagonally.

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For those of you wondering why we're using the labor intensive tow rather than using carbon fabric, it is mostly because we *have* the tow already -- we paid $60 for 16,000ft of it as potential tranmission line, but it failed for that purpose. Rather than spend near $500 for carbon fabric we will do a little hand wrap work and save both money and weight.