Custom Engineered Laminate (CEL)

This is another step that I do making our product different from others. I wrap and cure the joint in two steps. The first is the structural laminate using uni-directional carbon fiber that I orient specifically for the customer. I call this “Custom Engineered Laminate” (CEL) meaning each joint’s laminate has been engineered for the customer. Through this process I am able to add, remove or orient the fibers to optimize the frame for the feel that the customer wants (stiffness, comfort, etc) as well as accommodate their weight in relation to the frame size. This part of the process is the most time consuming because it requires individually laying hundreds of pieces of carbon fiber in very specific ways across the joint areas. It is also important that each piece is laid down with no wrinkles, looseness or bridging across gaps. Once this is done the frame is compressed to remove all voids and create a single system out of the multiple pieces of fiber. Then I cure it in an oven following a very specific ramping curve which allows the resin to flow before it hardens and cures.