Carbon Climber

Kryzsko Commons Ballroom

The Carbon Climber is an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber ladder. The goal of the design was to remove any inconvenience factors of ordinary ladders, which originate from their heavy bulky design. The Carbon Climber is meant to be a fast and safe alternative to promote safety in high reaching situations when users may otherwise be inclined to stand on a chair, shelf, or countertop. Carbon fiber composite was the material of choice due to its high strength to weight ratio as well as its high stiffness, which is a primary factor for ladder rail buckling and step stiffness. The rails of the Carbon Climber are solid carbon composite laminate, while the steps are a sandwich panel using lightweight foam as well as glass fiber rods incorporated into the layup to create anti-slip ridges onto the top of the step. The steps and rails are then joined using a high strength epoxy adhesive.