But Will It Bend?
Common Fibers is taking what seems to be the route of choice these days for product launches: Kickstarter. The company’s campaign (“Common Fibers – A Real Carbon Fiber Wallet“) begins today with a $20,000 initial funding goal along with a graduated series of stretch goals ranging up to $100,000. Naturally, backers will receive a tantalizing range of rewards as funding goals are met, exceeded and met again.
But back to the wallets – true triumphs of engineering applied to a low-tech yet exceptionally personal accessory that has but a single moving part: the central hinge. Common Fibers faced an especially onerous challenge in creating a hinge from normally inflexible carbon fiber. The solution was involved addition (flexibility, that is) through subtraction: delicately laser-ablating resin-impregnated carbon fiber sheeting to the point where strength was retained and movement through a single plane of motion was enabled. In short, it bends but it won’t break, even after innumerable cycles!
The resin removal process leaves the carbon fiber with 80 percent of its original strength, a still considerable quotient measured by Common Fibers at 800 lbs per inch of hinge. Through months of rigorous field testing, not a single instance of hinge failure has been reported. The wallet hinges are sealed with polyurethane protective tape to add an appealing finish while boosting hinge strength even further.
