New here and want to make a carbon frame.
 

Hi there guys. I am new here. Love bikes and all that. I just decided that I would want a carbon frame. Any of you have experience with that and where could I read about it?
I am thinking about a mountain bike and just to be clear, could the carbon handle the load that MB get?

I have wanted to build a carbon frame since the late '70s. I keep intending to get around to it someday. Are you going to try bonded tubes? Don't think anyone that posts here regularly has built with carbon, but maybe some of the lurkers have

I think building in carbon is ambitious unless you have worked with a similar material such as fiberglass. I think you could make a MTB frame strong enough, but the cost might be offset by the weight. One of the strongest arguments against carbon fiber for a MTB frame is impact loading, and the potentially explosive nature of carbon fiber material failures. Doesn't mean you can't do it though.

You could read up on Fiberglass. There might be more literature, I'm not sure. The basic techniques are the same. A quick search of the internet and I found this article on one man's experiment with a CF frame build:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/carbon_fiber.htm

There are a couple interesting videos if you look up "how a carbon fiber bike is made" in google. I did a composite structures course once where we studied woven composite structures like CF and fiberglass. Had a fancy spread sheet that you could use to design layering. Wish I still had it, I'd send it your way.

I found this:

http://theprojectjunkie.com/bicycles...e-project.html

He also put together a series of videos documenting his build. He claims he only spent $160! Really good starting point.

Working with composites is remarkably easy, if messy. I would build the frame around "proper" foam and work a layer of kevlar in to cancel out the explosive failure potential carbon has.
Leave the foam in as well. It supports a structure from impact, stiffens it and adds minimal weight since it is designed to not drink up excess resin.
The high density foam is expensive but fairly readily available. It's very easy to shape and you can be as creative as you want.