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Photos by Simon MarkhofWith the help aerospace engineers at EADS, Somerset, UK-based Charge Bikes have refined and expanded their 3D-printed dropout production since we first came across them last August, as evidenced by a new vid from last week. However, German IDer Ralf Holleis does them one better with the VRZ 2 Track bicycle, developed under the VORWaeRTZ moniker. (Further details on Holleis's practice are scant; from what I can determine, he's connected to the equally mysterious designlab coburg.)
The making-of video is actually for the VRZ 1, which dates back to January of 2012; no word on any new developments beyond the prototype of the VRZ 2 with a belt drive. In other words, I can't imagine this is going into production, however limited, any time soon.
The lugs, fresh off the build platformUnlike the Charge dropouts, the lugs of the VRZ 2 Track are produced with a proprietary process called LaserCUSING. I'm not going to attempt to explain the purported advantages of 'cusing' over sintering (even my survey of other methods for 3D printing metals was a stretch), but interested parties can peruse a technical overview of the technology here (PDF).
Each one is like a little sculpture...
The jig is up
The brake bridge might be my favorite...
The truss-like stem
Also digging the seatpost
After Todd McLellan?
Bonus video: Holleis has also applied his additive manufacturing expertise to the holiday spirit as well, as his latest project is a series of 3D-printed Christmas cookies:
Hat-tip to Tangram Design
Ray is a writer, editor, and researcher
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Webinar
3D-Printed Bike Porn: Ralf Holleis's Carbon Fiber VRZ 2 Track with Titanium Lugs and Dropouts
http://www.designcampus-open.de/designcampus-open/Programm.html
Cool technology though. Opens the world to custom tubing profiles and the re-emergence of Hetchins-esque fancy lugs. I wonder if this could be brazed to the new generation of stainless tubing.