Could the next iPad or Macbook feature carbon fiber parts?
![Macbook Pro With \](http://media.bestofmicro.com/-carbon-fiber-macbook-decal
,J-1-354493-13.jpg "Macbook Pro With \")
Carbon fiber-related Apple rumors have been around for quite some time now, but when the company brought on senior composites engineer Kevin Kenney, it was only a matter of time before Cupertino began experimenting with some carbon fiber models. Kenney was previously president and CEO of Kestrel Bicycles, the company credited for pioneering the first carbon fiber bicycle frame.
Now, Japanese blog Macotakara has received information from an inside source indicating that representatives of Apple and Foxconn have been meeting with a company that specializes in carbon fiber materials to source unknown parts for future products. Although there wasn't any information as to the specifics of the parts in question, the source reports it was a large volume of parts for a production scheduled for mid-March.
With carbon fiber's light weight and high durability, we definitely wouldn't rule out carbon fiber based products in the future, from Apple or other manufacturers. Of course, a switch over to carbon fiber would mean leaving its iconic aluminum look behind.
Apple's strategy for the 2013
now there going to write "Apple" on the top in the same font as acer and sue them.
Apple's strategy for the 2013
now there going to write "Apple" on the top in the same font as acer and sue them.
Since Apple has not made a carbon fiber Macbook Pro... it may well be an Acer with a photoshop.
Once they do, they're gonna sue Lenovo for "copying" them with the X1 Carbon
I don't care what look Apple's products have, personally, but seriously, their "iconic aluminum look" is played out, passe, uninspired, insert your own derisive adjective here. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine Apple users going for the carbon fiber aesthetic, so I'm not sure what they can do. They've kind of designed themselves into a corner, really.
That being said, I'd recommend Motorola file some design patents, stat. Clearly, "prior art" means f--k-all when it comes to these ridiculous lawsuits.
300 dollars in hardware covered in 30 dollars in carbon fiber 120 dollar OS = 2800 dollars
Personally I love the mac look. I liked the innovative design of the 'toaster', and the 'lamp shade', and the 'cheese grater' power macs, and really like the simple metal look of the current gen all-in-one units. I am no fan of apple products, but they do look good.
But the problem with ALL apple products (aesthetically speaking anyways) is that the minute they rub up against something, or you use it, then they are easily ruined. They look great out of the box, but the exteriors only keep up if they are never touched. Moving to carbon fiber would fix some of that.
Personally, as much as I like to look at apple products, I do not like to use them, and would love to see carbon in more WP8 designs as that is what I am likely going to move towards.
So if you can imagine a phone with a black aluminum look, but the lightness of CF (and bounce properties), you may have a winner.
However, as the previous owner of kestrel, the guy should at least know that one small chip in a CF chasis can have extreme consequences. At least it won't be as dangerous as having a frame, seat post, or handlebar blow up on you because of an unchecked crack.
Stick with environmentally friendly aluminum, please.
You have to be careful with controlling humidity or it sprouts :-)
the weave is from the use of a bidirectional layup which adds extra rigidity and strength while minimizing weight and thickness, dont like the look then paint it or use an opaque resin
stress induced crack propagation on CFRP is no more disastrous than on metals (unless your talking about a homogenous aligned uni-direction fiber, but those are only ever employed in highly controlled lateral loading conditions), the only thing that would cause serious issues with CFRP is delamination
if it was the 80s maybe but in reality modern CFRP can be made to be ecologically sound, rayon (bamboo) derived carbon fiber along with a Corn/Hemp derived resin can be used, at end of life the carbon fiber can be extracted and recycled, these are cell phones after all not aircrafts or automobiles so high performance resins and fibers are not required