Skip to content
EN

Composite that doesn't come apart

3D woven structural carbon plates, CNC-cut to your drawing.

Buy plates Get a part price

Organisations we have worked with

  • Istanbul Technical University
  • Marmara University
  • Kordsa-Sabancı Composite Centre of Excellence
  • TÜBİTAK MAM
  • Roketsan
  • Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)
  • DeltaV Space Technologies
  • Ivchenko Progress

Crack growth in a 2D laminate and a 3D weave

In a 2D laminate a crack runs along the resin line between layers and the layers separate. In a 3D weave, Z yarns bind the layers through the thickness; the crack stops at the first Z yarn.

2D laminate In an eight-layer laminate a crack starting at the edge runs along the interlaminar line to the far end of the plate; the upper layers separate.
3D weave (OWC) The same eight layers are bound through the thickness by Z yarns; a crack starting at the edge stops at the first Z yarn.

A crack starts at the edge of both plates. In the 3D weave, Z yarns through the thickness stop the crack. In the 2D laminate, the crack runs between the layers and the layers separate.

  • Around holes

    No cracking around holes, so bolts can sit close to the edge.

  • After impact

    Impact energy spreads through the whole structure, so parts don't snap.

  • Machining

    Machines like metal on CNC and waterjet, with clean edges.

  • Repeated missions

    With no separation between layers, wear under vibration and repeated loads is lower than in a 2D laminate; parts last longer in repeated missions.

The corner joint of a T profile

In a hand-laid T profile two L plies sit back to back, and under the corner the plies cannot meet: a triangular gap remains, known as the noodle. Under a pull-off load the crack starts there. In 3D weaving the web, corner and base are woven as one piece and the corner is filled with fibre.

2D hand lay-up Cross-section of a T profile: two L plies back to back on a base laminate. A triangular noodle gap remains under the corner; under a pull-off load the crack starts at the gap and the web and flanges peel off the base.
3D weaving The same T profile section woven as one piece: the corner is filled with yarn and layer-to-layer binder fibres run from the web through the corner into the base without a break. The same load causes no separation.

The plies are laid: two L plies and a base in 2D, one woven piece in 3D. In 2D a noodle gap remains under the corner; in 3D the corner is filled with fibre. Under the same pull-off load the 2D crack starts at the gap; in 3D web and base carry the load together.

T, Π and H profile types

Test values

Tensile strength and flexural modulus values are test results on 3D woven RTM specimens.

Tensile strength
813–993 MPa 3D weave + RTM
Flexural modulus
94–107 GPa 3D weave + RTM
Density
≈1.60 g/cm³ Approximate value
Glass transition temperature (Tg)
140 °C VARTM-moulded plate

Product groups

  • 3D woven structural carbon plate

    Full plate

    Structural carbon plate, 500 × 250 × 6.5 mm, Tg140

    For R&D teams that cut on their own CNC and prefer not to share their design.

    $612 (export price, no VAT)

  • Carbon drone parts CNC-cut from the plate

    Composite cutting (CNC)

    Parts CNC-cut to your drawing

    The part is cut from 3D woven plate and shipped; the price follows the plates used.

    Price on request

  • Four drone arms cut from carbon plate

    Ready-made drone arms

    5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 15 inch; set of 4

    Arms for FPV, long-range and heavy-lift drones that damp vibration and impact and make PID tuning easier.

    Price on request

  • 3D woven carbon plate made by VARTM

    Sample kit

    3 small rectangular plate pieces and a datasheet

    For teams that want to try the material before ordering.

    Price on request

Our products are made with OWC. What is OWC?

How ordering works

  1. Choose a product or upload your drawing

    Plates, sample kits and drone parts are in the shop; your drawing is all a custom cut needs.

  2. See the price

    Catalogue prices are on each product page; a cutting price is calculated as soon as the drawing is uploaded.

  3. Pay by link

    Once the order is approved, a PayTR payment link is emailed to you; payment is made by card.

  4. Track the shipment

    The tracking number is sent to you by email.

Material comparison

Numerical values are sourced; the other rows are a qualitative comparison.

3D weave (OWC) compared with 2D twill, UD prepreg and Al 6061
Property 3D weave (OWC) 2D twill (plain-weave prepreg) UD prepreg Al 6061-T6
Tensile strength (MPa) 813–993 420–454 718–819 310
Flexural modulus (GPa) 94–107 39–41 82–91 68.9 elastic modulus
Density (g/cm³) ≈1.60 No sourced value No sourced value 2.70
Delamination Does not occur; Z yarns bind the layers Risk of separation along the resin line between layers Risk of separation between layers No layered structure
Around holes No cracking at holes near the edge Risk of layer separation around holes Risk of splitting along the fibres Isotropic; edge distance rules apply
After impact Damage stays local; no sudden failure Internal delamination, lower compressive strength Internal delamination and fibre splitting Permanent deformation (denting)
CNC edge quality Clean edge, no fraying Risk of fibre breakout and fraying at the edge Edge splitting depending on fibre direction Clean edge; needs deburring
  • Composite values: results of the same test series (3D weave + RTM, UD prepreg, plain-weave prepreg).
  • Al 6061-T6: ASM Aerospace Specification Metals, 6061-T6 material data sheet (tensile strength 310 MPa, elastic modulus 68.9 GPa, density 2.70 g/cm³).
  • OWC density is an approximate value.

Where it is used

The product group that fits each field: ready-made arms, full plate, composite cutting or custom production.

  • 5-inch drone arm set

    FPV freestyle and racing

    Arms whose layers do not separate, for 5 and 7 inch builds that crash often.

    5-inch arm
  • 7-inch drone arm set

    Long range

    Arms for 7–10 inch long-range drones with 16×16 and 19×19 motor patterns.

    7-inch arm
  • Exploded assembly of the 9-inch arm set

    Industrial inspection and mapping

    Arms for 9–12 inch inspection and mapping drones carrying a camera or LiDAR.

    9-inch arm
  • Exploded assembly of the 10-inch arm set

    Search and rescue

    10–15 inch arms for the thermal-camera UAVs of volunteer search and rescue teams such as AKUT; their layers do not separate on impact.

    10-inch arm
  • Exploded assembly of the 12-inch arm set

    Cinelifters and heavy cameras

    Arms for 9–15 inch platforms carrying cinema cameras; custom body parts are cut from the full plate.

    12-inch arm
  • 15-inch drone arm set

    Crop spraying and monitoring

    12–15 inch arms are for monitoring and light spraying prototypes; body parts for large spraying UAVs are cut to your drawing.

    15-inch arm
  • 3D woven structural carbon plate

    Cargo and delivery prototypes

    Load-carrying body and bracket parts are made from the full plate or cut to your drawing.

    Composite cutting
  • Carbon composite part being machined on a CNC

    University and Teknofest teams

    Full plate and cutting to your drawing for competitions and thesis work.

    Composite cutting
  • 3D woven T-profile preform

    Defence and aerospace R&D

    Full plate and composite parts woven in one piece to your design; NDA on request.

    Custom production

Frequently asked questions

How are prices set?
Prices of plates, sample kits and drone parts are shown on each product page. A CNC cutting price appears in the calculator as soon as you upload your drawing. There is no automatic quantity discount; orders of 25 or more plates and other large-quantity requests are priced through the quote form on the contact page.

How long does delivery take?
The estimated dispatch time is shown on each product page and starts once payment is confirmed. The tracking number is sent to you by email.

Which file format is accepted for cutting?
For an instant price, upload a 2D DXF file of up to 5 MB. The outline must be a closed polyline and the part must fit within 490 × 240 mm; units are read from the file and millimetres are assumed when none are set. DWG, STEP, STP and PDF drawings of up to 10 MB are uploaded in the same area; they are priced by quote and the part price is sent by email.

Why is a 3D woven composite more durable?
The fibres are locked together in three axes, so the layers do not separate (no delamination), and even if a crack forms it cannot run between the layers. Through-thickness fibre raises compression after impact (CAI) and fatigue resistance; high vibration damping lowers the risk of resonance. Test results show 3D woven RTM specimens reaching 813–993 MPa tensile strength and 94–107 GPa flexural modulus; in the same tests, unidirectional (UD) prepreg reached 718–819 MPa and 82–91 GPa, and plain-weave prepreg 420–454 MPa and 39–41 GPa.

How is the invoice issued?
Every order is invoiced electronically: an e-Invoice if you are registered for e-Invoice in Türkiye, otherwise an e-Archive invoice. For company orders, enter the company name and tax details in the order form. Deliveries outside Türkiye are invoiced without VAT.

All questions

Drawing ready?

The part price of your DXF drawing is calculated instantly.

Get a part price Contact