A Very Weird and Random Thought
peter413
Posts: 4,909
Has anyone ever tried making a carbon fibre spring for rear shocks.
I know, sounds really stupid, but does it......
Its lighter than titanium and stronger if done properly and it would look well wicked for those that like the look of a carbon weave
Just thought about it when I randomly thought about some of those canondales that have inches of rear wheel travel without a shock (or have I just imagined them
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I know, sounds really stupid, but does it......
Its lighter than titanium and stronger if done properly and it would look well wicked for those that like the look of a carbon weave
Just thought about it when I randomly thought about some of those canondales that have inches of rear wheel travel without a shock (or have I just imagined them
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Comments
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Yeah, I was meaning for a DH bikes shock, but now I'm thinking it could be used in forks as well
If it wasn't done correctly then I agree, it would snap, but what about if it was done correctly, I'm sure it would be possible with the right research to find how to make it.
Look at the Cannondale I was on about, they designed that much flex in the chainstays, but it only flexs in that direction, its very rigid in other directions0 -
It has been attempted and trialed a few times in the past if i remember correctly in the mid-late 90's, but nothing came of it, which kind of says it all really.
in this day and age of weight saving if it was practical and usable then the boutique or major suspension makers would have it in there product line already.0 -
Don't think so mrfmilo, otherwise you would get all of these 7 grand hardtails failing
Give me a min and I will try and find whether I'm imagining this bike or not 0 -
Slightly different to what I was explaining but the Cannondale Flash was the bike I was on about0
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peter413 wrote:Don't think so mrfmilo, otherwise you would get all of these 7 grand hardtails failing
Give me a min and I will try and find whether I'm imagining this bike or not
Should have read what I said properly
I know carbon is fine in frames and components. Say there was a DH carbon coil, it may be compressing by 9 inches - that's abit different to flex on a frame 0 -
It wouldn't be compressed by that much though, not even half that.
It's compressed by as much stroke as there is on the shock0 -
I'm not sure either, just thought it would be a laugh to ask
I wouldn't use one either purely because it would be expensive0 -
they should make springs out of sheeps teeth0
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sheepsteeth wrote:they should make springs out of sheeps teeth
Might try it if I move back to Wales 0 -
there are a handful of bikes with flexy stays and shocks, the flexy stays replace the need for pivots.
the thing is the stays are built to flex in a specific place and in a single plane, but think of a spring it flexes at all points along its length and and in all planes across it diameter as it compresses or expands, so i don't think a traditional coil design could be produced in carbonfibre.
i can envision that a circular design (like a donut) that compresses across it diameter between the shock body and a lip of sorts on the end of the stanchion might hold up a bit longer before the fibres delaminate.
after all the problem isn't that the actual carbon fibres are the issue it is the epoxy that makes the other half of the composite.
disclaimer: i am no material scientist so the above may be entirely a lot of pish.Fancy a brew?0 -
Mrfmilo's correct the stresses are different in frames.
However Carbon can be used!!!!!!! The link below shows a new material.
"Carbon nanotubes have the potential to store a thousand times more mechanical energy, pound for pound, than steel springs"
http://memagazine.asme.org/Articles/2010/march/Carbon_SuperSpring.cfm
So maybe 0 -
seriously:
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It might be doable. Carbon can be weaved in a variety of ways, giving it virtually any characteristic you want.0
