[CR]Nuovo-Bilaminate?

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 20:40:46 -0400
From: "HM & SS Sachs" <sachs@erols.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Nuovo-Bilaminate?

If it isn't here yet, I will flat-out predict that some keeper-of-the-flame will begin doing bilaminate work again within the next few years, with enormous freedom in shaping, and complete customization. Good fractal representations are not out of the question. Why am I so confident? We have several ingredients coming together: First, there are wonderful craftsmen-machinists out there with substantial aerospace experience, folks like Peter Johnson. Second, our Son the Engineer (so is my wife) was chatting about some waterjet cutting machinery he had been watching. That's not new, but what is happening is ever better integration of CAD with the waterjet, so one moves from a sketch to a design that can be cut in a matter of minutes. This combination will allow some lovely artistry in flat sheet, of exactly the right length to wrap around the tube "seamlessly," for bilaminate construction. I'd suspect that the early offerings will come from a person who builds a few frames, and can "bootleg" some time on what are still expensive frames. This would never, of course, happen in a government contracting shop...

Yes, it will be possible to add random variations, to help in the pursuit of Richard (no relation) Sachs's Perfection in Imperfection.

But think of the options, like your own facial profile cut into the head tube. Hairy, eh?

harvey (really, just one bottle of hard cider tonight, just 12 oz) sachs McLean VA