Micro-T Chassis How-To Part #1 Options

[The Cow]

This is my first real how-to so please bear with me! I reserve the right to edit anything I forgot, leave out, or overlook I will get this done in installments, if you dont mind and I hope this will help you achieve your micro obsessions.... for performance.... or bling this is one mod that has it all in one....

Any questions..... ask away my friends!

Heath


As promised..... here goes the first one

CARBON FIBER MICRO-T CHASSIS



When building a carbon fiber chassis there is a few things you will need to get in order to ensure a drama free easy build. If you have a little patience and around $20 you can make one too! The great thing about making your own chassis, besides the great price; is you can tailor it to your needs. Want to extend the wheelbase? Go ahead..... Want to widen the chassis? Go ahead..... Want it made from ultra high quality, ultra rigid, ultra glossy carbon fiber? No problem. There is a few nice options out there.... well made, rigid, well priced but lets be honest that carbon fiber looks like a carbon decaled plastic.

My goal with this chassis....

1. Make a 2 plate bolt in carbon fiber chassis
2. Extend the wheel base aproximitly 10mm (factory bodies will work if you relocate the rear mounting hole!) to increase high speed stability and better keep the front wheels down and rear power to the ground!
3. Drastically increase rigidity
4. Increase ease of use.... battery removal.... maintenance..... Etc
5. Stay with in a $20-$25 budget

THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO GET STARTED

First you will need to order that carbon fiber

I have found a great carbon fiber source that I have mentioned before (see pics below) I highly recommend them as their carbon fiber simply put, is gorgeous! This is what I recommend you order to stay within our supply budget

www.protechcomposite.com/servlet/the-53/carbon-fiber-sheet%2C-panel%2C/Detail

As per the website -

Carbon Fiber Sheet - 4 pc Sample Pack 4x4, twill weave

SKU:

CARBON FIBER SHEET - High-end decorative laminate made of all Carbon Fiber


This is the real thing, 100% CARBON FIBER SHEET. This Carbon Fiber Panel is the best looking product on the market. Made from Aerospace grade 2x2 twill weave carbon fiber fabric to create that much sought after "zigzag" look. Our special tooling and structural grade epoxy resin system assures a beautiful mirror like, high gloss finish right from the tool. The back surface is pre-textured and ready to bond to most any surface using your adhesives or our 3M high performance sheet adhesive. No sanding or other prep work required!


These parts are perfect for high end decorative applications - smooth, clean, glossy, and void free.


PRICE: $11.99


you will notice you get 4 4"x4" samples. for only 12 dollars plus shipping you get 1 piece each of .25mm, .50mm, 1.0mm, 1.3mm. These are one side finished pieces so we will be bonding 2 pieces together in different combinations to get our desired thickness according to your goals and micro use.... Think about this.... You will have enough CF to make 2-4 chassis depending on the desired size and shape! Thats 6-12 dollars a piece.Thats what I call bang for the buck

The chassis thickness Should be decided based on YOUR overall goals. My recommendations are as follows

Super rigid high speed use - 2.3mm (1.0mm + 1.3mm) - this is .7 thicker then any other micro chassis available at the moment! Simply put = zero flex

medium rigidity speed-bash combo use - 1.8mm (1.3mm + .5mm) - comparable to available chassis.... stiff but not inflexible

some flex mostly bashing use - 1.25mm (1.0mm + .25mm) - noticeably flexible... within reason for all out bashing use

Just in case your not convinced of a good reason to make your own here is a pic. And yes that is my reflection you see!




O.K...... so now we ordered our CF and we will need to get our tools together....

we will need the following things on hand....

most are pictured below (sorry for the cam pics I need to get a charger for the camera but this will be done before I proceed!)

1. Masking tape….
I prefer blue painters tape as it is easily removed. this will prove to be key to an easy chassis

2. Thin form CA glue...
you will need this to bond our CF together

3.dremel tool and assorted dremel bits.
Any dremel will do…. Just make sure to have a few attachments to make your life easy I find these three are all I need…. 1/8 drill bit, cutting wheel, and a sanding wheel


4. some type of pointed sharp pin or needle ….
We will need this later to mark screw holes! i will show you a little easy trick to get the holes where you need em!

5. a few assorted small hobby files and A few grades of rough to fine sandpaper
A small assorted hobby set with different shapes will be perfect. Flat, angled, and round is what I utilize. As for the sandpaper I like a few grades from 100-250. I use both files and sand paper but you could get away with one or the other if necessary….



6. exacto knife and new sharp blades
You will need an exact with some new sharp blades. This is all that is necessary to cut up the stock chassis to steal the front bulk head and rear brace. You will also need this to cut the masking tape. Got a little dremel trick for you to keep the edges clean


7. lexan reamer
I like to start my screw holes with a lexan reamer to ensure the drill bit drills in the exact location intended. Remember with tiny parts and tiny screw if things are off even a half a mm you can be s**t out of luck


8. cordless drill
nothing fancy is needed here.... you will need a tiny 1/32 drill bit so you will need a drill capable of grabbin a small bit such as this or you can fix the problem with a little electrical tape but we will go over that later


9. a ruler
10. a pen or pencil
11. stock micro-t ,b ,dt , chassis

If you need a pic of the last three I am sorry but this thread is not for you

Another thing you will want to consider is your work area... dremels and CF make dust and a mess..... you will want to do this in some sort of work room or garage to avoid the wife or mom beating you silly

I also reccomend when working you work in a cool dry room while wearing longsleeves... remember these fibers if gotten in your pores will cause iritation!

Well i think this covers the to have items my friends.... i figure i have at least 7-14 days beforeI get to part 2. maybe someone will suprise me and order thier CF to follow along as we go?

LINKY FOR PART 2 >>>>>> http://forums.thetoyz.com/index.php?showtopic=7634&hl=

[Me1]

WOW, CF is really cheap!

[lesclaypool]

Nice work Heath - I'm looking forward to installment number 2!! You can call me officially "micro obsessed". These things are a blast.

[Micro-T Master]

Looking forward to part two heath!
I need to make one for my lil speed demon!

[racer_dave]

Does anyone have a cad file with the dimensions needed to make a chassis, or does anyone know the numbers. I'd like to try this and I can plot it all out in autocad,will certainly help with keeping the holes all square.

[The Cow]

Does anyone have a cad file with the dimensions needed to make a chassis, or does anyone know the numbers. I'd like to try this and I can plot it all out in autocad,will certainly help with keeping the holes all square.

I cant offer you any help with the cad request but once I begin the chassis I will show you a way to gt the holes exactly where you want em! Its really no big deal at all easy as pie

Heath

[randy1]

i want one when u get done

[acerpower]

i'm making one these as soon as i fix my brushless problems.
well done, heath! i cant wait for part two.

[The Cow]

i'm making one these as soon as i fix my brushless problems.
well done, heath! i cant wait for part two.

Should be soon! my parents are in bermuda with my borrowed macro function camera so when they return on monday i will get the second part posted

Heath

[WrenchHead]

I sit still awaiting the arrival with baited breath. Oh Cow where fort art thow??? We want carbon fiber,we want carbon fiber. J/K Hurry the heck UP!!!. Nah just kiddin'. LOL L8R,Wrench. nuff razzin'

[Squeaky]

sweet cow can't wait to see the rest of this how to. awesome job on the beginning.

[The Cow]

Just finished getting part 2 written up.... Just need to get a few pics and lay it all out in a post I will get part 2 up tommorow

Sorry for the long wait my friends....

Heath

[TyHodge]

finally, lol. i cant talk much it takes me months to get something done. looking forward to checking it out.

[acerpower]

i was just wondering when part 2 was coming out.
i can't wait to see this.
...........sadly i'm still waiting for my cf to come in.

[The Cow]

i was just wondering when part 2 was coming out.
i can't wait to see this.
...........sadly i'm still waiting for my cf to come in.

Part 2 hits the streets tonight

Heath

[WrenchHead]

Sweet,Cant wait to see the next installment. All good things are well worth the wait. So when you are good anr ready we be here,waiting with baited DogBreath. L8R,Wrench.

[PPB0089]

ordered the carbon fiber and it was delivered in 5 days from time of purchase to my door. thanks for giving the link!!! the glue is setting and i should be starting to lay it out soon. thanks again!!!!

[The Cow]

ordered the carbon fiber and it was delivered in 5 days from time of purchase to my door. thanks for giving the link!!! the glue is setting and i should be starting to lay it out soon. thanks again!!!!

Awesome my friend! Make sure to take lots of pics Looking foward to the final product WOOT WOOT

Heath

[madmax22]

can you sticky these?

[Crumps]

can you sticky these?

X2 Heath has some mad skills. Im always going back to this thread looking for inspiration. Sticky worthy for shure!!!