This Carbon Fiber Single DIN Dash Vent Housing is a direct replacement for the Roadster.

These parts are made for us by a well known US based Carbon Fiber accessory vendor, who does Carbon Fiber for Lamborghini’s Ferraris, and McLaren’s.

The shop is well known, and equipped with the most expensive way of doing Carbon Fiber using a prepreg system and Autoclaves, instead of small run hand layup, wet lay, or vacuum bag, more commonly found in small run shops.  In order for the laminate to cure properly, it is necessary to use a combination of pressure and heat.

Advantages of Prepregs

There are several advantages to using a prepreg rather than using traditional hand layup:

Maximum strength properties. In a hand layup, it is difficult to achieve 50% resin content. This means that the finished laminate weight is 50% fabric and 50% resin. Typical hand laminates, even when vacuum bagged, end up with a significant amount of excess resin. Excess resin increases brittleness and reduces overall properties. On the other hand, most prepregs contain around 35% resin. This is ideal for maximum cured properties and generally impossible to achieve in normal hand lamination.

Part uniformity and repeatability. Without the pitfalls of human lamination techniques, there will be neither resin-rich areas nor dry spots. Thickness will be uniform and every part that comes out of the mold has a theoretical likelihood of being identical. There is still a margin for error in vacuum bagging techniques, handling, etc., but prepregs reduce these problems significantly.

Less mess and less waste. Prepregs will bleed excess resin during the curing process but all of the excesses of hand layup – cups of resin, messy rollers, drips – are no longer a problem. Plus, prepregs are handled at room temperature so you are not fighting a clock trying to avoid your resin setting up before you are ready.

Better cosmetics. Mold preparation and mold release is still required and will directly affect the cosmetics of the part just like a hand laminate. However, prepregs virtually eliminate air bubbles and a smooth, glossy surface is more easily attainable.

Our Carbon Fiber parts are made from molds, to the original Tesla specifications.  These replacements will give you that sought after Carbon Fiber look.