HYDROFORMING:
Hydroforming takes butting and shaping a step further by allowing complicated organic three dimensional engineered shapes to be readily made. By changing the outside shape of a tube we can tune how it will behave under the rider's load. Increasing the size of a tube near a welded junction increases its strength in a similar way as butting, but spreads the load over a larger area. Much the same way as a tree gets larger at its base, our product engineers have taken a lesson from nature and applied it to our shaped tubesets. The intense pressure required to hydroform these tubesets means that shaping is done virtually cold forged - and that's good. The molecular alignment of the material is not interfered with, so the alloy maintains its native grain structure and inherent strength. The results are incredibly strong frames that can only be a Marin Bike.
- At tube junctions the cross-section of the tubing is greater to increase the weld surface area helping dissipate the loads.
- Smaller diameter sections allow the tubes to flex, dissipate vibrations, and reduce weight while maintaining their strength.
- Hydroforming provides structurally superior tubing with which we construct our lightweight, durable, and organically shaped frames.
CUSTOM BUTTING:
Every tube used in the construction of a Marin bike begins life as a simple, plain round tube and is transformed into a performance machine. Butting is a process by which a plain round tube has material removed in order to make it lighter without sacrifi cing its useful strength. By customizing this process for every size of every bike in the Marin line, we're able to better tune each bike's ride quality for each specific rider. Often times, tubesets are designed with the tallest riders in mind and are cut down to fit shorter riders. While this would save money in the frame manufacturing process, we believe that this is a short cut on quality and performance. Marin Bikes' near-custom frame production means every bike is built with you, the end rider, specifically in mind.
- Tubing is thicker at the ends where welds are applied and forces are the highest. This ensures there is enough material to produce a reliable welded joint, and a stronger structure to manage stress and strain.
- Thinner wall sections span the mid section of the tube, where forces are lowest. The result is a tube that retains its strength while managing to reduce weight.
- Butting specifications, or profiles, are different for each tube and each frame. Additionally, every size of a specific frame has a different butting profile.
