TECHNICAL

Materials – Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber fabric impregnated with resin is the basis of all DeAnima carbon frames. This fabric, pre-impregnated with resin, is kept in freezers to keep the resin from setting. Two things are required to make a structure in carbon fiber: the mold gives form to the material and an autoclave polymerizes the part, maintaining vacuum while applying external pressure to compact the layers. Compacted cured resin holds the fabric together and gives the object its form. The layup of fabric in the mold determines how it will perform. Changing the direction and quantity of the fibers has a great deal of effect on the stiffness of the finished part. The birth of a frame starts with laying the carbon fabric out on a cutting table and cutting various pieces to form the part in the mold. Once the pieces are in place in the various molds, a bladder is put into the mold and inflated. The mold is then put into the autoclave and cured in a heated vacuum. The vacuum ensures there is no air trapped in the resin between the layers of fabric because the air would weaken the structure. Once cured, the part is removed from the mold and prepared for painting.

Materials – Steel

The traditional material of the bicycle since its creation. Simple to join, strong and with a good amount of elasticity and resistance. Steel is a mix of metals, the base ferrous material has various other elements added to it to make it strong, more elastic and to better handle the heat generated when welding or brazing the tubes together. Modern tubes are formed in one piece, without any seams. The tubes are then butted, creating a tube with varying wall thickness. The tubes taper on the inside, thicker at the ends and thinner in the middle. The thicker ends of the tubes deal with the heat generated during welding. Tube diameter has the largest effect on tube stiffness, and thus frame compliance. DeAnima uses TIG welding to join tubes when frame building.

Sizing and Geometry

DeAnima produces all frames in either standard or custom geometry.

Standard Geometry

DeAnima frames are available in sizes from 48cm to 58cm with 1cm increments.

Made to measure

Before the advent of sloping frames, all frames were made to measure. Since all riders are different in their anthropometric measurements, their pedal stroke, and their riding style, there will always be a need for a custom-built frame. For DeAnima, this process also respects the tradition of Italian frame building.

DeAnima prefers building made-to-measure frames for all customers, whether in steel or carbon. This is contrary to industry norms. DeAnima custom frames do not have any difference in delivery time nor in the final price. For situations where made-to-measure is not optimal, (as in when the bike is a gift) DeAnima determines frame dimensions using their highly refined standard geometry chart.