Top | Features | Specifications | Pricing
Top | Features | Specifications | Pricing |
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| Yttriumtm |
| Magnesium tubes and accessories for performance frame building |
| Performance | Yttrium1 tubes enable magnesium bike frames of unparalleled performance. |
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Lower Inertia, Faster Acceleration |
Magnesium is the lightest structural metal. Yttrium matches the strength of structural aluminum with 30% lower density. The result is stronger lighter frames. Weight savings with no performance trade-off equals faster riding, quicker climbs and quicker sprints. | |
Velvet ride |
Magnesium is unique in its ride. No other material used in frame building can equal its vibration dampening capability. Less shock equals greater endurance for the rider. | |
Better Fit |
A wide range of tube options enables unique custom frame builds with the ease of one off welds. Nothing beats a rider specific tube set and a rider specific frame fit for supporting ride comfort and performance. (See Effective Frame Load) | |
Formable |
Yttrium tubes are formable and shapeable, allowing even greater flexibility in frame design. | |
Low Hassle Post-weld |
You save time and resource with no post weld heat-treating or aging requirement. | |
| Outstanding Finishes | Yttrium magnesium alloy is an ideal surface for finishes. All frame tubes and parts come passivated and immediately ready to paint with virtually any paint system. |
Top | Features | Specifications | Pricing |
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Advanced Yttrium-Magnesium Alloy
|
 Yttrium
is the new "It" alloy. We alloy magnesium with several elements to produce
its unique structural and environmental performance. Yttrium takes
its name from the rare earth element (atomic number 39) which is key in adding
strength, high temperature properties, and excellent corrosion resistance.
The result is an alloy with a density of 1.8.
Compare this new milestone to other structural metals: Aluminum 2.7, Titanium 4.5,
and Steel 7.8. The result is a remarkable material ideally suited to
maximal performance applications. |
Strength |
 Yttrium
shows its greatest advantage when measured
in units of strength to weight. Dividing tensile yield
(MPa) by alloy density (g/ml), Yttrium measures 125, while 7005-T6 is 109,
Titanium is 1072, 6061-T6 is 100, and steel measures 88.
Strength at lower density
creates unique options for lightening build designs with stiffer larger
diameter sections or lighter minimum wall weights. Lighter, stiffer
or higher strength results can be achieved within the same frame design
requirements. This performance is further preserved by the ability to
execute full strength weld joints with accurate well designed structural transitions. |
Smooth |
 The
superlative viscoelastic properties of magnesium make it the most
vibration dampening material available for bike frames, including carbon
and other composite materials. Yttrium's irregular molecular structure uniquely mitigates
high frequency sympathetic vibration creating a dampening that is as much as 10 times
steel and titanium. |
Unfatigueable |
Like steel, Yttrium alloy has a remarkable fatigue strength when designed within its rated material yield. This produces a frame life markedly superior to Aluminum. We can work with you to design a frame where metal fatigue is effectively eliminated. |
Welding |
Excellent welding properties allow frame designs to fully leverage Yttrium material advantages. Welds do not require heat treating or aging. With no secondary heat exposure there is no added warping or stresses to the assembled frame. Superior welding results are achieved using TIG with reverse polarity (electrode positive) DC with a 20% to 50% helium-argon mix environment. Other methods (including MIG) also yield acceptable results. Any weld process should be thoroughly trained and tested to ensure weld quality and safety. We supply Yttrium specific weld rod. |
Choice |
 With
8 main frame tube section choices and various
specialty tubes, almost anything is possible (see Specifications
below). We encourage frame designers to collaborate
with us in selecting a specific tube combination for each frame. Rider
weight, rider power, tube lengths, fatigue life and ride characteristics
all effect tube diameter and wall thickness choices. Each tube option
is designed and measured for both its yield strength and sectional stiffness.
When combined with performance matching data from ranging rider profiles, you can now not only
achieve the perfect rider dimensional fit, you can also design the
strength, durability and feel of the ride. See calculation of an Effective
Frame Load and corresponding recommendations for main tube
selections. |
Shape |
Tubes can be shaped to support special down tube or seat/chain stay designs. Cold worked bending or compression can be used within limits related to tube section and wall diameter. Tubes should be supported through their full bend radius. We recommend making a full bend female form to support the shaping. Any bend radius should typically exceed 30mm (for a 1.6 mm wall). Expected additional instructions and examples to be posted.3 |
Beauty in the beholder |
See our gallery for finish examples.3 |
| Tough | Magnesium has better tolerance to impact. Superior dent resistance is why it is used for cement handling equipment and lawn mower chassis. An Yttrium tube set will make your finished frame tougher than other frames of comparable strength. |
| Scraps enhance soil fertility | Magnesium scraps or pieces should be stored dry. Wet scraps, especially small debris, should be gathered in an open container and kept in a well vented area to eliminate any accumulation of hydrogen gas while drying. Shavings or small cuttings can simply be tossed outside on soil or plants as compost, where they will fully decompose and enrich the earth. Yttrium parts come with finished surfaces, so there is never need to grind or sand our material. The best practice is to avoid producing magnesium dust from any such activity. If you do produce dust, never store it, carefully sweep it up and scatter it outside. |
| All the bits |  We
offer all the bits needed for frame building including billet material.
See frame bit gallery3.
If there is something you don't see,
you can ask for it, and chances are we'll add it as an option. |
Top | Features | Specifications | Pricing |
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Tube |
Outside Diameter x wall x length (mm) |
Mass (g) |
Bend under load4 |
Tensile Yield (kg) |
||
|
2516 |
25.4 x 1.6 x 635 |
137 |
1.93 |
893 |
||
|
3216 |
31.8 x 1.6 x 635 |
174 |
1.32 |
1,133 |
||
|
3516 |
34.9 x 1.6 x 635 |
191 |
1.14 |
1,249 |
||
|
3816 |
38.1 x 1.6 x 635 |
210 |
1.00 |
1,369 |
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4116 |
41.1 x 1.6 x 635 |
226 |
0.90 |
1,478 |
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4416 |
44.0 x 1.6 x 635 |
244 |
0.81 |
1,591 |
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5116 |
50.8 x 1.6 x 635 |
283 |
0.67 |
1,846 |
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6016 |
60.0 x 1.6 x 635 |
336 |
0.55 |
2,191 |
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S1 |
22 x 1.5 x 420 |
74 |
2.49 |
765 |
||
H1 |
50 x 3 x 120 |
120 |
-- |
3,306 |
||
BB1 |
44 x 5 x 68 |
93 |
-- |
4,573 |
||
DO |
Dropout set |
63 |
-- |
-- |
||
CS |
Cable stops (2) |
-- |
-- |
-- |
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WW |
Weld wire 3 x 520 |
78 |
-- |
-- |
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Notes |
Yttrium |
Yttrium
Yttrium