Interview: Carbon nanotubes the Nantero way

[Gizmo]

Recently, we ran a story about Intel's research into carbon nanotube technology, and its application to semiconductor manufacturing. The take-home message from that story was that carbon nanotube tech looked promising, but was still quite a few years away from practicality, mainly due to issues with being able to repeatably produce reliable semiconducting nanotubes and integrate them into a standard silicon-based semiconductor manufacturing process..

Then I came across Nantero's web site.

Read more on the Front Page:
http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/content/view/1436/2/

[danrok]

Can't wait to see this implemented in chips we can use!

[cloasters]

I wonder if the tubes actually physically move between 0 and 1? Looks like it at their Web site. Danged fine article, Gizmo. Well done!

[danrok]

Yes, they do physically move, or bend a distance of 13 nanometers.

[Pitch]

Great stuff Gizmo!

[madcatmk3]

Im impressed with the fact AOA got and did suhc a great interview. Good job.

[Daniel ~]

Great work Gizmo! A very good quick look into something that appears to be seeding it self into all our futures!
Many thanks Big guy!

[aztec61]

Nanotube tech might be new to computers, but it's not to racing road bicycles. I've been using carbon nanotube parts on my bike for some time now. You can get forks, handlebars, stems, seat stays, chainstays, seatposts...with nanotube resin.

http://eastonbike.com/

And you computer doods think you're "high tech". Sheesh!

[Daniel ~]

We are trying, but things are moving ahead so fast with the wheel it's hard to keep up...they don't even need hubs to be useful anymore! ":O}

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

...they don't even need hubs to be useful anymore! ":O}

Just legs n' lungs, and a new set of tubulars!

http://usera.imagecave.com/aztec447/...onPro-copy.jpg

[Favu]

Originally Posted by aztec61

Just legs n' lungs, and a new set of tubulars!

Whatever!

http://i11.tinypic.com/3zm5cvb.png

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by Favu

Whatever!

Not even close, dude! But hey, it's a bike and if you ride a lot, then yer my brutha!

[Favu]

You appear to have no tyres though

[aztec61]

You appear to be correct! That is when I first got the wheels, before the tires were mounted.

The tires had to be stretched for a couple days, then glued onto the rims and allowed to dry overnight.



Then...you go fast! About 2 weeks ago on a climb not far from here, I got up to 54 MPH going down the other side (Ennis Rd.). I had to use a little braking b/c two of the turns were a bit sharp on the apexes.

That ride qualified as a "w00t!" fo' sho'.

[Daniel ~]

Very sweet!

Yet I was referring to a hub-less wheel one of the Motorcycle companies came out with...I think it was ten or 15 years ago. The Bike actually rode one the rim rather than off a, in it's case non-existent, hub.

I don't guess it worked out well for them as I've only seen one, but I don't get out much.":O}

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

Very sweet!

Yet I was referring to a hub-less wheel one of the Motorcycle companies came out with...I think it was ten or 15 years ago. The Bike actually rode one the rim rather than off a, in it's case non-existent, hub.

I don't guess it worked out well for them as I've only seen one, but I don't get out much.":O}

Trying to picture this.

You mean it had no axle, either?

[cloasters]

Originally Posted by aztec61

You appear to be correct! That is when I first got the wheels, before the tires were mounted.

The tires had to be stretched for a couple days, then glued onto the rims and allowed to dry overnight.



Then...you go fast! About 2 weeks ago on a climb not far from here, I got up to 54 MPH going down the other side (Ennis Rd.). I had to use a little braking b/c two of the turns were a bit sharp on the apexes.

That ride qualified as a "w00t!" fo' sho'.

Holy frijoles, that's beyond scary fast! I wouldn't be surprised if I never went faster than ~35 mph on a bike. I forgot that you need to slow down in sharpish curves. Slid across the whole road, nearly went under the guard rail and fell off the mountain. All in a day's play, you heal fast when you're a kid.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by danrok

Trying to picture this.

You mean it had no axle, either?

I think he's talking about this

I'm trying to figure how you keep debris out of the works, though.

[Daniel ~]

Thank God! I've been trying picture what I saw that day and having a bit of trouble!

I don't think this was the Bike I saw, but same concept.

http://www.osmoswheel.com/images/galerie/galerie11.jpg

[Gizmo]

I gather that there has been some flirtation with another concept refered to as 'hub-less' that really isn't.

Basically, you make the axle about 1" or so smaller than the inside diameter of the wheel, essentially just small enough for the axle to go through the tire and rim, but hollow in the center. This creates the APPEARANCE of nothing being in the center of the wheel, while still working with pretty standard drive concepts.

Apparently, this has been done off and on for many many years (clear back into the 60s?).