Carbon Fiber Plate (CNC)
Generic / House Brand
☀ UV Stable
⬡ Chemical Resistant
Overview
Woven or UD carbon fiber prepreg cured in epoxy matrix. Stiffest lightweight structural material routinely machined on desktop CNC. Critical hazard: generates carcinogenic glass-like carbon fiber dust and respirable particles. MANDATORY: P100 respirator, enclosed dust collection, nitrile gloves — NO EXCEPTIONS.
Properties
Difficulty
expert
Flexibility
rigid
Layer Adhesion
excellent
Enclosure
no
Heated Bed
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of machined materials
- Very low thermal expansion (0.2 ppm/°C in fiber direction)
- Excellent fatigue resistance
- Corrosion resistant
- RF transparent
- Professional aesthetic
Cons
- HAZARDOUS DUST — carcinogenic carbon fibers, P100 respirator mandatory
- Conductive — short-circuits electronics
- Abrasive — destroys standard carbide endmills rapidly (diamond-coated required)
- Brittle — no yield, catastrophic fracture
- Very expensive
- Delamination risk with blunt tooling
- Electrically conductive — do not drill near electronics without isolation
Best For
- Drone frames (FPV racing
- commercial)|RC aircraft wing spars|Lightweight structural brackets|Automotive downforce panels|Robotics structural members|High-performance bicycle components
Avoid For
- Electrical insulation|Impact-absorbing applications|Sliding wear surfaces|Food contact|Electronics enclosures (conductive)|Applications without proper dust control
Storage
Store flat with protective film. Machine with FULL dust enclosure or at minimum wet machining. P100 respirator required — not optional. Nitrile gloves. Carbon fiber splinters penetrate skin. Collect chips for specialized disposal.
Brands
DragonPlateRock West CompositesMcMaster-CarrClearwater CompositesCarbon-Core