backplate in carbon fiber?

[Tortuga68]

Didn't Zeagle make a titanium backplate that retailed for $700 or something?

 

[Blackwood]

Didn't Zeagle make a titanium backplate that retailed for $700 or something?

Yes, and it likely weighs more than their aluminum plates (unless they re-tooled for a thinner Ti plate). maybe Scott Zeagle can answer that, I can't find any specs for it online.

 

[Tortuga68]

Well their alloy plates are only 1.7# and titanium is 60% heavier than aluminium all things being equal, so...

CF would be what, 40% of the weight of alloy, for the same thickness? That's a big saving... nearly a whole pound. As long as it didn't need to be any thicker of course

Maybe the OP should be looking for a magnesium BP

Or perhaps a set of Apeks Flight regs

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hello,

does anyone know from where I can buy a back plate made in carbon fiber?

Thanks

Mario

Kinda pointless IMO.

Backplates are not highly stressed. Stainless Steel plates are not made from SS because they need to be enormously strong. SS is used because it is dense and corrosion resistant, useful if the diver needs ballast.

Light weight plate, Kydex or Aluminum are used when the diver needs less ballast.

Current Kydex plates are just slightly negative.

You could always buy an al plate and stick on a Carbon Fiber decal.

Tobin

 

[fire_diver]

yes, I have even seen carbon fiber bibo tanks

yes the weight is the issue specially when I travel far away on plane

carbon fiber weights much less than Aluminum ! and no way you can crack it ! if its well done

anyways if someone knows of anyone selling them please let me know

thanks

Have you looked at these?:

OxyCheq Ultra Lite Back Plate discounts on sale OxyCheq

No reason a BP has to be hard, it's just a connecting point for a tank and bc to your body.

 

[Blackwood]

CF would be what, 40% of the weight of alloy, for the same thickness?

Various fibers (I'm most familiar with M55J and T300 myself) and resin systems are more or less similar in density, but the weight of the laminate depends on fiber volume (as well as thickness).

 

[fjpatrum]

yes, I have even seen carbon fiber bibo tanks

yes the weight is the issue specially when I travel far away on plane

carbon fiber weights much less than Aluminum ! and no way you can crack it ! if its well done

anyways if someone knows of anyone selling them please let me know

thanks

I hate to disappoint you, but a 100% carbon fiber plate won't have the rigidity you're going to want from a hard plate. If you make a lay-up with some other material to add rigidity, you might be okay.

It's also remarkably easy to crack carbon fiber if it flexes. I'm not sure what makes you think otherwise. I've seen CF kayaks completely destroyed from a collision with a rock at 6 mph. I have a CF paddle I built (yes I built it "properly") that also broke. It would work for a while, if you had say, 6-10 layers of 6 oz cloth laid up. I've been thinking of experimenting with a fiberglass or CF/plywood plate just for fun, but I have so many other projects I probably won't get around to it.

For what it's worth, a PVC plate is significantly easier to make than a CF one would be and works quite well. For the weight savings, you're not gaining much over AL when you consider a CF plate will probably cost a lot more and would certainly cost you more (in time alone) if you were to make one.

 

[BrianG701]

If someone in the Charlotte, NC area has a BP I can make a mold off of (needs to be polish-able) I am willing to make the mold and give it a go. I would be more than happy to make a few so long as people are willing to help pay for materials and infusion supplies.
As for the cracking while flexing issue that could be corrected by simply using a hybrid cloth of Carbon and Kevlar with a core material possibly, also if you are worried about the strap slots they can be reinforced by putting some small pieces of alloy plate into the layup.

 

[marmagi]

BrianG701

if you ever make one let me know I will for sure buy one from you

thanks

mario

 

[The Chairman]

I have two Kydex plates from Tobin... they are wonderfully engineered and are the best choice for me to reduce weight both for diving or for traveling.