First, the materials, strength is greater when the right balance of carbon fibers and resin commingle. In order to achieve the strongest laminate we utilize materials that are made to our specifications with the proper ratio of fiber to resin with a tolerance of + 3% resin content.
Next, patterns of prepreg (woven carbon fiber already impregnated with a toughened hi-tech polymer epoxy resin) are precision cut (to within + .005 Inch) on a computer programmed cutting table. The patterns are then table rolled onto a polished precision ground (to within + .0005 Inch) tool and placed in to a vacuum bag for curing. The tooling is critical as carbon has a zero co-efficient of thermal expansion (meaning it will not change with temperature or humidity) and we have a + .0005 Inch tolerance on the bore size.
The bagged parts are then Autoclave Cured, a technique in which the raw material and tool are subjected to heat and elevated pressure for consolidation/curing while removing entrapped air or volatiles (which if not removed would leave a rough surface finish called porosity). The autoclave process also allows us to achieve the step in the bore and the 8-mil finish spec.
After cure, the outside of the barrels are precision ground to a fine satin finish. We then drill and port the barrel to our specifications. The black anodized aluminum collar is then bonded to the outside of the barrel using a high-grade bonding agent.
The all carbon fiber and our Jet Port design have proven to make this barrel one of the quietest on the market!
At 53 grams (less than 2 ounces), it is 3 to 7 times lighter than any metal barrel.
And…St!ffi is not just a name! Gram for gram carbon is one of the stiffest materials. Aluminum has a specific strength of 29.0, Mild Steel is 59.0…..and Carbon you ask!....well that’s just 2900.0 Yes we have the decimal in the right place!
Stiffi proudly brings to the paintball industry over 25 years of powerful expertise and technology working in the classified aerospace industry of advanced composites for the Department of Defense.
Commonly used in satellites, missiles, and F-117 fighter jets, carbon fiber is a unique material that is stronger than steel, yet lighter than aluminum. But just using carbon fiber alone doesn’t give you results. The secret lies in how it’s processed and how it’s built. The secret lies in how an expert in carbon fiber fabrication can take the components of ballistics, the knowledge of high-tech materials (carbon fiber, Kevlar, aramid fibers) and combine them with special processing and curing techniques so that you end up with perfect results. That’s what Stiffi does.
Stiffi, with its leading-edge technology, research, and advanced structural materials and design creates an accurate, lightweight, and durable paintball barrel. The proprietary MicroJeweled™ glass-like bore of Stiffi provides accuracy beyond expectation. The toughened epoxy prepreg carbon fibers are aerospace grade quality. And like a diamond that’s created from intense pressure, Stiffi also is created using high pressure Autoclaves. Stiffi is built with the same stability and structure performance as utilized in Department of Defense weapons specifications.
