Our Carbon Arrows Inspection & Testing Processes

Weighing

The weight of the arrow shaft is a critical technical indicator. It influences range (initial speed), stability (wind resistance), penetration (impact effect), flight trajectory, compatibility with the bow, dynamic spine, FOC, and accuracy.

Setup

Carbon arrow shafts are placed into the feeding equipment of Automatic Weighing Machine. Each shaft is sequentially placed on an electronic scale for weighing.

Measurement

The electronic scale sends the weight data to the Control and Processing Terminal. The Control and Processing Terminal then sends orders to the Selection Equipment, and the carbon arrow shafts are automatically sorted by the Collecting Devices according to the weight tiers required by our client. Note: Weighing needs to be performed separately after the shaft has completed finishing grinding, after the shaft has completed painting, and after the carbon arrows are finished assemble(For FOC-test purposes) to ensure the quality consistency of the final product.

Final step

The carbon arrow shafts that have completed weighing are marked with their weight range and placed into Turnover Boxes. They will wait to be sent to the Straightness Testing Process or be put into the stock house. In addition, before packaging the finished arrows, the complete arrow (the final product with point, nock, and fletching installed) also needs to be weighed. Any complete arrows that exceed the tolerance requirements shall be rejected.

Straightness Testing: The Foundation of Accuracy

Straightness is the backbone of an arrow’s ability to fly true. Even the tiniest deviation can cause erratic flight, leading to missed targets.

Auto Straightness Testing

We have 11 sets of Auto Straightness Measuring Instruments for the straightness testing. The arrow shaft straightness testing happens between Carbon Shaft Finishing Grinding and Carbon Shaft Painting. Because of the automatic property of the Auto Straightness Measuring Instruments, it is easy to finish the testing of 30,000 pcs each day!

• Setup: The carbon arrow shafts are put into the feeding equipment of Auto Straightness Measuring Instruments, each carbon arrow shaft is mounted on a rolling device.
• Measurement: The sensors record the jumpings of shaft while it rolling, and values will be sent to Control and Processing Terminal. The Control and Processing Terminal will send orders to the Selection Equipment, and the carbon arrow shafts will be automatically sorted by the Collecting Devices. The carbon arrow shafts will be sorted in 4 tiers of straightness, ±0.001″, ±0.003″, ±0.006″, and over ±0.006″.
• Final step: The carbon arrow shafts finished straightness testing will be marked with straightness, and put into Turnover Boxes, they will be wait for sending to Painting Process, or put into stock house.

Appearance Inspection

Visual inspection of the arrow shaft is a crucial quality control step. After grinding, spine testing, and weighing, appearance inspection further ensures product quality and eliminates potential defects.

Measurement

Appearance inspection is performed manually and is 100% inspected. Operators check for: bonding status of carbon fibers, dents, scratches, scars, carbon fiber twisting, bubbles, abnormal patterns, bumps, cracks, ridges, and break marks on the shaft surface.

Final step

Arrow shafts with any visual defects are deemed unqualified and placed into scrap bins for centralized disposal. Qualified shafts are placed into Turnover Boxes to await the next process.

Durability Testing: Surviving Impact and Wear

Carbon fiber needs to withstand the harsh realities of archery—from high-impact target hits to accidental drops.

Impact Resistance Testing

This test mimics the force an arrow endures when hitting a target, tree, or game animal:

• Controlled Impact: Testers use a drop tower to release a 500-gram weight onto the middle of a horizontally mounted arrow shaft.
• Inspection: After impact, the shaft is examined under a high-magnification microscope for cracks, delamination, or permanent deformation.

Flexural Strength (Bending) Testing

Archers often subject arrows to bending forces—whether pulling back the bowstring or retrieving an arrow stuck in a tree:

• Three-Point Bending Setup: The arrow is supported at two ends while a hydraulic press applies upward force to the center.
• Data Collection: Testers record the “flexural modulus” and “flexural strength” to measure stiffness and maximum force tolerance.

Consistency Testing: Ensuring Uniform Performance

For archers using multiple arrows, consistency between shafts is just as important as individual performance. The consistency of arrows is mainly reflected in maintaining weight, spine, and straightness within a certain tolerance range across multiple shafts. Therefore, this parameter is actually achieved through strict control of production conditions and process parameters, rather than requiring dedicated testing.

Production Conditions

Constant temperature workshop, ensuring the temperature is maintained at around 25°C.

Process Conditions

The parameters of each equipment are set consistently and are regularly inspected according to ISO standards.

Environmental Durability Testing

Archers shoot in a variety of environments—from humid forests to dry deserts, and freezing winters to hot summers.

Humidity and Temperature Cycling

This test simulates long-term exposure to extreme weather:

• Cycle Setup: Arrows are placed in a climate chamber that alternates between high humidity/high temperature and low humidity/low temperature.
• Post-Cycle Testing: After the cycles, the arrows are retested for straightness, flexural strength, and weight.

UV Resistance Testing

Prolonged exposure to sunlight’s UV rays can break down the resin in carbon arrows:

• UV Exposure: Arrows are placed under a UV lamp for 100 hours—equivalent to 6 months of outdoor exposure.
• Inspection: Testers check for discoloration and perform a flexural strength test.

Real-World Shooting Testing

No lab test can fully replicate the experience of shooting an arrow from a bow.

Distance and Accuracy Testing

• Setup: Testers use a calibrated compound bow to shoot arrows at a target 50 yards away.
• Pass Criteria: For competition arrows, the average group size must be less than 4 inches.

Vibration Analysis

When an arrow is shot, it vibrates as it leaves the bowstring—excessive vibration can reduce accuracy:

• Sensor Setup: A small accelerometer is attached to the middle of the arrow shaft.
• Analysis: High-quality arrows should have a vibration frequency of 200-300 Hz and an amplitude of less than 0.1 inches.

Why These Tests Matter for Archers

Every test outlined above serves a single purpose: to ensure carbon arrows are reliable, precise, and durable. For competitive archers, consistent straightness and spine mean the ability to hit bullseyes under pressure. For hunters, impact resistance and environmental durability mean arrows that hold up in tough conditions and deliver ethical kills.