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 Composite Armor?

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froggyman




People Skills : 4420
Registration date : 2012-02-29

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PostSubject: Composite Armor?   Composite Armor? I_icon_minitimeWed May 23, 2012 7:02 pm

I've been brainstorming a few different ideas for my next battlebot (15LB). I was wondering if any teams have ever made a composite armor shell to go around their frame?

My thoughts were to mold carbon fiber/Kevlar hybrid fabric over a foam mold of the bot's frame. This would be several layers thick (probably around 1/8" to 1/4") and would get bolted to the frame.


In my experiences, Kevlar is tough stuff and won't even cut with a regular scissors. But, will it be tough enough to hold up in battle against hardened steel, titanium and what ever else it might encounter in battle?
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rdubard
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Registration date : 2009-06-10
Age : 59
Location : Ransom Everglades, Miami, FL

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PostSubject: Re: Composite Armor?   Composite Armor? I_icon_minitimeSun Jun 03, 2012 10:34 am

DISCLAIMER: Never used 'em, speaking theoretically, not from experience!!

I would think that it would be a bad idea to make the outside of your robot from fiber composites of any type. The reason is that the fibers are intentionally made to NOT cut easily, so now you would have excellent material for an opponents weapon to dig into and throw you with.

Fiber composites are really lightweight, and with a thin 'slippery' skin of spring steel or Ti it seems they maybe could work well as "framework/armor basis" material. But then how do you attach them securely to the rest of the bot?

For internals it seems they would be more trouble than UHMW or HDPE, because these are also lightweight, but can be machined easily and thus produce much greater precision than a composite can achieve. I suppose you could make molds, and imbed nuts of some sort for attachments, but again, they seem pretty non-ideal compared to machinables.

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Camden W
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Registration date : 2011-04-10
Age : 29
Location : Blaine Minnesota

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PostSubject: Re: Composite Armor?   Composite Armor? I_icon_minitimeSun Jun 03, 2012 11:37 am

That's one of the bad things composites have going for them. It takes a bunch of time and effort to get a decently precise piece made of a fiber composite material, as compared to a machinable. A dremel is usually the best bet to finish a piece of fiber, though you could try to machine it after it's been hardened, though I don't suggest it.

I have had experience using fiberglass-reinforced foam (The high-density pink stuff) and it holds up incredibly well. It wouldn't be good for armor, but internal structure would be the best place for it, if there's room.
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PostSubject: Re: Composite Armor?   Composite Armor? I_icon_minitime

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