[Peter Matteson]

It depends on how you plan to do it. I tend to think that the time invested in doing a proper layup and autoclave or vacuum bag cure is a diminishing return for use in a FIRST bot. I believe many of the teams that use CF have used pre-formed structural shapes, for example Hyper (69) using hockey sticks in 2005. If the sponsor is say Easton or Reynolds you may be able to use their catalog shapes in this manner.

The problem will become joining other materials to your base after you mold it. Also the cost of the material could in fact be crippling. Remember you still have to account for the material cost in your $3500 additional materials budget.

Also it may just be heavier than a welded tubing or kitbot frame. I believe it was the 767 where they designed a composite tail to save weight and when all was said and done it weight virtually the same as an all aluminum one.

To sum up the ramble if you're serious look at the real trade offs before you do it. You make work yourself into a corner.