Manufacturing processes vary greatly between companies and even by model but most composite bikes are made by arranging small strips right of carbon around a solid core inside a mold far.
Carbon fibre bicycle frame manufacturing process.
When it comes to raw materials a very small percentage of bike builders use a rtm resin transfer mold based system where dry carbon fiber is injected with resin during the actual molding process.
Here s a condensed version of the step by step process.
Commonly the lug material is now also a carbon fiber composite.
Resin transfer rtm or fillament winding method used in lugged construction where pre formed carbon tubes are bonded to internal or external lugs see.
1 it takes 5 000 to 12 000 carbon filaments each between five and seven micrometers thick to make a single carbon fibre.
2 weave the fibres together with resin to make pre preg sheets.
Like all ingredients carbon needs to be stored and maintained properly to maintain quality.
Not all carbon is created equal.
Before manufacturing begins we select the specific fibers resins and weaves for each bike.
Just as important as the carbon we select is the fiber orientation or layup schedule development which is how the carbon is wrapped or placed on the frame.
Carbon fiber composite frames can be manufactured using the following two methods.