Carbon fiber computer chassis a first for Cedar Rapids manufacturer

A Cedar Rapids company that specializes in manufacturing rugged computers has added a new twist in their latest computer - a carbon fiber chassis.

Crystal Group's tiny REO412 computer is believed to be the first embedded computer with a carbon fiber chassis. Jakelyn Coon, the company's marketing manager, said it may be the first carbon fiber chassis computer on the market, period.

Crystal Group has a patent pending for the carbon fiber chassis, which primarily allows the computer to remain rugged at a lower weight.

The computer uses a Intel Core i3 (desktop) central processing unit, and is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -40C to 50C.

One of the things that has kept carbon fiber out of the computer market has been its electromagnetic characteristics, according to Crystal Group Senior Vice President of Engineering Jim Shaw, but those issues have been resolved in Crystal Group's design.

The type of carbon fiber used in the REO412 has different heat transfer characteristics than metal materials. Crystal Group used a "air-over-the-components" approach that eliminated the need for the material to conduct heat in a manner similar to a metal chassis.

"Part of the patent application for this box revolves around the custom material we specified and some of the special electromagnetic properties it possesses while still being ultra-light weight," Shaw said.

The product was developed in response to demand from the unmanned aerial vehicle market for lightweight computers in a small form factor that require little power, Coon said. It will be mounted in unmanned aerial vehicles or surface vehicles, powered by DC current from the vehicle's power system.

Crystal Group has a patent pending for the carbon fiber chassis. Coon said most of Crystal Group's lightweight computers are made with a aircraft aluminum chassis.

The REO412 attracted quite a bit of interest at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's annual Unmanned Systems Program Review last week in Washington, D.C. Coon said the 3.8-pound weight is a big selling point.