But you do have to worry about things like hub flanges, etc. on a composite wheel.
I have not built a composite wheel; however, I do know a thing or two about their construction. The Hed does not have a core, therefore it is an "all-carbon" wheel (not really, as I will explain later*). Flat wheels like the Renn, Corima, and the Zipp have a core (whether it be honeycomb or structural foam) bonded to a rim (or not, in the case of the Corima).
All of the hubs have flanges- it is the basis for the hub to be attached to the wheel. The difference (with the exception of an old Japanese wheel that the disc covering replaced spokes- very complicated to explain) is how it is bonded. Some are bonded or glued in, some are screwed together and glued in. Glue is the main common denominator.
There are some wheels that only screw in the hub with no bonding- this makes changing the purpose of the wheel quite easily. The old Specialized wheels (and I am sure that the current Hed3) allows changing of the "guts" for switching between front and track wheels. Aerospoke allows the changing of the hub, and you could buy Nimble wheels as pieces (I don't know if they sell the "pieces" any more).
I don't believe I am giving away any industrial trade secrets here (as almost everyone I have asked in the composites industry have told me these things), but my best suggestion would be to get some foam, get a suitable hub (either by crudely hacking one up or buying an Aerospoke hub, if still available), getting a rim, getting some carbon fabric, carbon tape, fibreglass, good epoxy, aircraft glue, and getting started. You don't even need vacuum-bagging equipment (though it may make life easier and allow smoother results).
There are many references for getting started (including an article on home carbon fibre fabrication on Damon Rinard's site http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/), so you're not going to be a pioneer of sorts. Many companies who manufacture and/or sell composites supplies will be happy to give or sell you reference materials and how-to manuals.
I wish you luck in your upcoming projects.
* for all intents and purposes, the Hed disc is "all-carbon" disc bonded to an aluminum rim and hub. The walls support the weight of the load, therefore need to be heavier, unlike a wheel with a core that is reinforced with carbon fibre skin.
I have not built a composite wheel; however, I do know a thing or two about their construction. The Hed does not have a core, therefore it is an "all-carbon" wheel (not really, as I will explain later*). Flat wheels like the Renn, Corima, and the Zipp have a core (whether it be honeycomb or structural foam) bonded to a rim (or not, in the case of the Corima).
All of the hubs have flanges- it is the basis for the hub to be attached to the wheel. The difference (with the exception of an old Japanese wheel that the disc covering replaced spokes- very complicated to explain) is how it is bonded. Some are bonded or glued in, some are screwed together and glued in. Glue is the main common denominator.
There are some wheels that only screw in the hub with no bonding- this makes changing the purpose of the wheel quite easily. The old Specialized wheels (and I am sure that the current Hed3) allows changing of the "guts" for switching between front and track wheels. Aerospoke allows the changing of the hub, and you could buy Nimble wheels as pieces (I don't know if they sell the "pieces" any more).
I don't believe I am giving away any industrial trade secrets here (as almost everyone I have asked in the composites industry have told me these things), but my best suggestion would be to get some foam, get a suitable hub (either by crudely hacking one up or buying an Aerospoke hub, if still available), getting a rim, getting some carbon fabric, carbon tape, fibreglass, good epoxy, aircraft glue, and getting started. You don't even need vacuum-bagging equipment (though it may make life easier and allow smoother results).
There are many references for getting started (including an article on home carbon fibre fabrication on Damon Rinard's site http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/), so you're not going to be a pioneer of sorts. Many companies who manufacture and/or sell composites supplies will be happy to give or sell you reference materials and how-to manuals.
I wish you luck in your upcoming projects.
* for all intents and purposes, the Hed disc is "all-carbon" disc bonded to an aluminum rim and hub. The walls support the weight of the load, therefore need to be heavier, unlike a wheel with a core that is reinforced with carbon fibre skin.