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3D printing and bicycles – a promising combination
As in numerous other areas of industrial production that have already been discussed in this blog, the same applies to the production of bicycles: 3D printing not only promises to make it possible to produce individually designed bicycles economically, but this process also allows, using the example of a bicycle (similar in particular aircraft construction) a production cost and weight-saving lightweight construction.
It should therefore not come as a surprise that since the beginning of 2014 at the latest there has been a boom in 3D printed bicycles. We would therefore like to offer you an overview of some of the projects that have already been realized in the field of bicycle 3D printing and the resulting opportunities for you.
2014: 3D printed bike frames from UK and Australia
It all started in February 2014 with a British cooperation between bicycle and machine builders, with the world’s first 3D-printed metal bicycle frame. Before the frame was constructed as a CAD model on the computer, so-called topology optimization software was used. This special technique means that each component is optimized for weight reduction.
In August 2014, James Novak, doctoral student and lecturer at the University of Griffith in Australia, presented a bicycle frame specially adapted to him, which he had designed using the well-known 3D modeling software SolidWorks and had it printed by a 3D printing service. Even the Brisbane Times reported on this highly customized bike 3D printing project. Novak, who has been involved in 3D printing since 2009, had previously won the Australian Student Design Award for Industrial Design in 2010 for another project.
2015: Award for FDM 3D printed bicycle
A 3D-printed bicycle frame called “Bhulck” was made from the plastic polylactic acid (PLA), obtained from sugar cane or grain-derived starch and produced by microorganisms, for which an Italian design agency received the award of the Eurobike 2015 (Friedrichshafen, August 26-29, 2015). The FDM printer used by the Italians processes colored PLA in granular form, in contrast to the filament rolls that are more common in this technology.
3D printed bike frame
In order to underline the ecologically sustainable character of the project, the electricity for this FDM 3D printer should be fed from renewable energies as far as possible.
2016: The 3D printed stainless steel bike from Holland
The world’s first 3D-printed stainless steel bicycle arrived in February 2016 from the classic biker country of Holland, designed by budding engineers from the TU Delft (Harry Anderson, Stef de Groot, Ainoa Areso Rossi, Sjoerd van de Velde and Joost Vreeken) who had extensively tested this model on the city’s cobblestone streets. The Arc Bicycle was manufactured in a special 3D stainless steel printing-Technology essentially based on the use of industrial robots. “This method of 3D printing makes it possible to produce medium and larger metal objects with almost complete freedom of shape,” says Harry Anderson from TU Delft’s Arc cycling team.
Based on precisely this technology, a steel bridge is to be erected over a canal in the center of Amsterdam by 2017.
2017: Bicycle 3D printing at CES
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), one of the world’s largest trade fairs for consumer electronics, which has been held in Las Vegas every year since 1998, a French service provider presented a 3D-printed bicycle made from various additive processes in 2017. In addition to the well-known methods of selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM), innovative 3D technologies were introduced Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) and laser cutting for use.
While the CLIP process (first presented in 2015) works in a similar way to stereolithography, laser cutting (also known as laser cutting or laser beam cutting) is more in the area of post-processing (finishes).
Whether metal or plastic – with us you will find the right material and the right technology for your 3D printed bike. Simply visit our website and select the one that suits you.
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