Carbon fiber tubes
Custom tube solutions for aerospace, motorsports, and more.
GEt USA-Made custom carbon fiber tubes.
Current, Inc is an American manufacturer of premium composites since 1962.
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Made in the USA
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Full Customization
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Fast Shipping
Tell us about your project
Watch how carbon fiber tubes are roll wrapped.
What makes our tubes better?
Our custom built equipment applies higher pressure than conventional machines during the rolling phase. This allows resin to flow more effectively through the material and create a denser tube. Tensile, flexural, and compressive strength are increased while internal defects are decreased.
INSTANT QUOTE
We have rolled over 1,000 tubes a day since 1962.
The combination of custom machinery and experience allows us to:
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Produce the highest quality tubes on the market
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For less
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Faster than our competition
Capabilities.
Fabrication
We specialize in custom fabrication, offering precision-cut carbon fiber tubes tailored to your exact specifications. Our capabilities include:
CNC milling
CNC turning
Cut to size
Custom finishes
Assembly
Our assembly services streamline your project by expertly combining carbon fiber tubes with precision fittings and components, ensuring a seamless fit. We handle everything from small-scale builds to large production runs, delivering ready-to-use assemblies with efficiency and quality.
Engineering and Design
Our team of composite engineers can help design a solution that fits your needs. Our prototype lab is a micro-manufacturing cell that fast tracks the research and development process. Services include:
Rapid prototyping
Product and material testing
CAD file development
Reach out to learn more.
Why Choose Carbon Fiber Tubes?
Discover why carbon fiber tubes are the preferred choice for engineers, designers, and hobbyists alike—offering unmatched performance and reliability compared to traditional materials.
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio
Carbon fiber tubes offer exceptional strength while being incredibly lightweight, making them ideal for applications where performance and weight savings are critical.
Durability and Corrosion Resistance
Unlike metals, carbon fiber resists corrosion and withstands harsh environments, ensuring long-lasting performance without degradation.
Versatility
Carbon fiber tubes can be customized for a wide range of industries, from aerospace to automotive, providing flexibility for any project.
Superior Stiffness
With high stiffness and rigidity, carbon fiber tubes maintain their shape under stress, outperforming materials like aluminum or steel in many applications.
Aesthetic Appeal
The sleek, modern look of carbon fiber adds a premium aesthetic to any project, enhancing both form and function.
Compare carbon fiber against other materials.
| Material | Strength-to-Weight Ratio | Corrosion Resistance | Weight | Cost | Common Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Fiber | High | Excellent | Very Light | Higher Cost | Aerospace (drone frames), Automotive (roll cages), Sporting Goods (bike frames) |
| Steel | Moderate | Poor | Heavy | Lower Cost | Construction, Industrial Machinery, Automotive (frames) |
| Aluminum | Moderate | Moderate | Light | Moderate Cost | Aerospace (aircraft parts), Automotive (body panels), Consumer Goods (ladders) |
| PVC | Low | Excellent | Light | Very Low Cost | Plumbing (pipes), Construction (conduits), Signage |
| G10/FR4 | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate Cost | Electrical Insulation (circuit boards), Knife Handles, Marine Applications |
| Basalt | Moderate | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate Cost | Construction (rebar), Automotive (exhaust systems), Marine (hull reinforcement) |
| Kevlar | High | Good | Very Light | Higher Cost | Ballistic Protection (bulletproof vests), Aerospace (panels), Sporting Goods (kayaks) |
| G11/FR5 | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Higher Cost | High-Temperature Electrical Insulation, Aerospace (structural components) |
| XX Paper Phenolic | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low Cost | Electrical Insulation (terminal boards), Mechanical Parts (gears), Consumer Goods |
| Canvas Phenolic | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate Cost | Mechanical Components (bearings), Industrial Applications (pulleys), Marine Parts |
| Linen Phenolic | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate Cost | Electrical Insulation (switchboards), Mechanical Parts (washers), Decorative Laminates |
| G3 Phenolic | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Higher Cost | High-Temperature Applications (aerospace fixtures), Electrical Insulation (transformers) |
Explore the benefits of each carbon fiber weave.
3K Twill 2x2
Known for its diagonal pattern, the 3K twill weave offers a balance of strength, flexibility, and a visually striking appearance, making it ideal for aesthetic applications like automotive parts or sporting goods.
3K Plain Weave
The 3K plain weave provides a classic checkerboard look with excellent stability and uniformity, perfect for structural applications where consistent strength and a smooth finish are key.
6K
The 6K weave strikes a middle ground, offering improved strength over 3K weaves while maintaining a refined appearance, suitable for versatile projects needing both durability and style.
12K
With larger fiber bundles, the 12K weave delivers enhanced strength and stiffness, making it a top choice for heavy-duty applications such as aerospace components or industrial machinery.
Frequently asked questions
Carbon fiber composites offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio, with tensile strengths often exceeding 500 ksi and a density of approximately 1.6 g/cm³, compared to aluminum’s 2.7 g/cm³. This allows for significant weight reduction (up to 70% compared to steel) while maintaining high stiffness (modulus of elasticity around 230 GPa for high-modulus fibers). In aerospace, this translates to improved fuel efficiency, increased payload capacity, and enhanced structural integrity under dynamic loads, such as those experienced during flight or re-entry.
Carbon fiber tubes are typically manufactured using processes like roll-wrapping or filament winding, where carbon fiber is impregnated with resin and layered over a mandrel, then cured under heat and pressure to form a strong, lightweight structure. They can then be sanded, ground, and sprayed with a UV coating to acheive a matte, glossy, or satin finish.
The choice of weave type (e.g., 3K plain, 3K twill, 6K, 12K) depends on the application’s requirements. 3K plain weaves offer a balanced strength and stiffness with a tighter weave pattern, ideal for smaller components like drone frames requiring uniform stress distribution. 3K twill weaves provide better drapeability for complex geometries, such as curved wing surfaces, while 12K weaves offer higher strength for larger structural components like fuselage sections. Engineers must also consider fiber orientation (e.g., 0/90° vs. ±45°) to optimize load-bearing capacity and thermal expansion properties.
Carbon fiber tubes exhibit excellent environmental resistance, with negligible degradation in temperatures ranging from -50°C to 120°C and minimal moisture absorption (less than 0.5% by weight). They resist corrosion from jet fuels, hydraulic fluids, and de-icing agents, making them ideal for aerospace applications like landing gear or engine nacelles. Additionally, their low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of approximately 0.5 × 10⁻⁶/°C ensures dimensional stability during thermal cycling in space or high-altitude environments.
Cost-effectiveness depends on material selection, manufacturing efficiency, and lifecycle benefits. While carbon fiber prepregs can cost $50–$150 per pound (depending on grade), their lightweight properties reduce fuel costs by up to 20% over an aircraft’s lifespan. Our automated roll-wrapping process minimizes labor costs and waste (less than 5% material scrap), and the durability of carbon fiber reduces maintenance expenses. Engineers should also consider hybrid designs (e.g., combining carbon fiber with aluminum) to balance cost and performance for non-critical components.
Carbon fiber tubes provide drones with a high strength-to-weight ratio, critical for both commercial and hobbyist applications. With a tensile strength of up to 500 ksi and a density of 1.6 g/cm³, they reduce frame weight by up to 50% compared to aluminum, improving flight time and payload capacity. For commercial drones (e.g., delivery or mapping), this enables longer missions—up to 30% more flight time—while maintaining structural rigidity under aerodynamic loads. Hobbyists benefit from enhanced maneuverability and durability, as carbon fiber withstands crashes better, with a compressive strength of 600 MPa compared to aluminum’s 400 MPa. Additionally, carbon fiber’s vibration damping properties (up to 20% better than metals) reduce motor fatigue, extending drone lifespan.
Carbon fiber components in sporting goods offer unparalleled performance through lightweight construction and tailored stiffness. In bicycle frames, carbon fiber reduces weight by 30–40% compared to aluminum (e.g., a frame weighing 1 kg vs. 1.5 kg), improving speed and endurance while maintaining a modulus of elasticity of 230 GPa for stiffness. This allows for precise power transfer during pedaling, critical for competitive cycling. In golf shafts, carbon fiber enables customized flex profiles (e.g., torque ratings of 3–5 degrees), enhancing swing speed and control—studies show a 5–10% increase in drive distance compared to steel shafts. Its fatigue resistance also ensures durability, withstanding over 10,000 cycles of stress without deformation, ideal for high-impact sports.
In hobby applications such as model rocketry and RC vehicles, carbon fiber tubes provide a lightweight, durable framework that enhances performance and survivability. For model rockets, carbon fiber tubes reduce airframe weight by up to 60% compared to traditional materials like fiberglass (e.g., 50 g vs. 120 g for a 1-meter tube), allowing for higher altitudes—up to 15% more height due to reduced drag. Their high compressive strength (600 MPa) ensures they withstand launch stresses and hard landings. In RC vehicles, carbon fiber chassis components improve speed and handling by lowering the center of gravity, with a stiffness-to-weight ratio 3x better than aluminum. Hobbyists also benefit from carbon fiber’s thermal stability, maintaining shape in outdoor conditions (CTE of 0.5 × 10⁻⁶/°C).
Carbon fiber tubes can be customized through weave type, layup orientation, and resin systems to meet specific performance needs. For drones, a 3K twill weave with a 0/90° layup maximizes stiffness for frames under torsional loads, while a ±45° orientation can enhance shear strength for landing gear. In sporting goods like tennis rackets, a 6K plain weave with a high-modulus resin increases impact resistance, absorbing up to 30% more energy than standard composites. Hobbyists building RC aircraft can opt for 12K weaves for larger structural components, paired with epoxy resins for a balance of strength (700 MPa tensile) and flexibility. Our custom calculator allows you to specify dimensions (e.g., inner/outer diameter, length) and weave types to optimize for weight, strength, or cost.
Carbon fiber offers environmental benefits through weight reduction and durability, contributing to sustainability across industries. In drones, lighter frames (e.g., 30% less weight than aluminum) reduce energy consumption, lowering battery usage by up to 20% per flight, which is critical for commercial fleets aiming to reduce carbon footprints. In sporting goods, such as kayaks, carbon fiber’s durability (lasting 10+ years vs. 5 years for fiberglass) reduces replacement frequency, minimizing waste. For hobby applications like RC boats, carbon fiber’s corrosion resistance eliminates the need for chemical coatings, reducing environmental impact. Additionally, advances in recycling (e.g., pyrolysis) allow up to 70% of carbon fiber to be reused, supporting sustainable manufacturing practices.
