A student team from TU Delft in the Netherlands has designed and produced a fully functional 3D printed stainless steel bicycle. The students designed the frame of the bicycle to demonstrate the potential of a new method for 3D printing metal.
The students achieved the goal of their three-month project by printing the bicycle frame with the help of MX3D in Amsterdam. The bicycle was designed as part of a research project at the Industrial Design Engineering faculty into the viability of metal 3D printing using a welding process. Part of wider research being done at the Delft University of Technology and the 3D Building FieldLab.
Student Team
Harry Anderson (Industrial Design RMIT University Melbourne)
Stef de Groot (Industrial Design Engineering TU Delft)
Ainoa Areso Rossi (Civil Engineering TU Delft)
Sjoerd van de Velde (Mechanical Engineering TU Delft)
Joost Vreeken (Aerospace Engineering TU Delft)
MX3D
Filippo Gilardi (Project Manager)
Jakob Schmidt (Senior Software Engineer)
Simon Rudolph (Senior Software Engineer)
"3D printing has exploded in popularity in the last decade but for those wanting to print medium to large scale objects, there are still significant limitations in the technology. This method of 3D printing makes it possible to produce medium to large scale metal objects with almost total form freedom."- Harry Anderson (Arc Bicycle team)
"It was important for us to design a functional object that people use everyday. Being students in the Netherlands, a bicycle naturally came to mind. A bicycle frame is a good test for the technology because of the complex forces involved." - Stef de Groot (Arc Bicycle team)
The frame was printed with the help of MX3D, an R&D start up in Amsterdam, who specialize in multi-axis 3D printing. The company has developed a ground breaking method for using multi axis robotic arms as 3D printers. This allows metals and resins to be printed mid-air in any direction without the need for support structures. The company made world news last year when it released plans to 3D print a steel pedestrian bridge in Amsterdam. Through the 3D Building FieldLab, MX3D invited the students to use their equipment to design something to showcase the new printing technology. These projects would help test the print software MX3D, together with partners such as Autodesk and Arcelor Mittal, are developing for the bridge project.
In a video about the production of the bicycle, the students prove the frame's strength by riding it around the city of Delft and demonstrating that it can really be used in real world conditions. It weighs about the same as a normal steel bicycle and performs well on the often bumpy cobblestone streets of the city.
The first bicycle ever to be 3D printed using a welding process, the students hope that others will build on their research when designing 3D printed metal bicycles in the future.
For more information please contact:
Project Coordinator: J.C.Verlinden@tudelft.nl
Student Team: arcbicycle@gmail.com
MX3D: press@mx3d.com
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Robots 3D Print a Stainless Steel Bicycle Designed by Students from TU Delft
Well, you certainly can't hide a motor in that.
Certainly not!
Thank you for the information you have provided , this very helpful
An interesting student project but it seems to be one of those that fall under the category of "I wonder if we can..?" which does not always mean we should.
Yes you are absolutely right. Our goal was simply to investigate if it is possible to make a functioning bicycle frame with this new method of metal printing (which is in development and optimization of print quality is ongoing).
A pointless project in my opinion. Whats the goal of this project? The advantage of 3D printing in metal is to manufacture designs that are complex and organic for a purpose. The purpose for an optimized design to achieve weight gains and significant strength. There is no point over designing and engineering something just to follow the fad.
More over, welding is an archaic process and a waste of material. It creates discontinuity and complicates the surface more than it needs to be. I ll be honest, it doesn't even appeal to the eye.
Read this to know more about an application of 3D printing in bicycle industry that has achieved a realistic goal.
http://www.renishaw.com/en/first-metal-3d-printed-bicycle-frame--31906
Haha you obviously have strong opinions which I am glad you have shared! This project was primarily a research project into 3D printing with welding specifically and how that process could be applied. This type of metal printing is currently being developed but is already much faster and cheaper than laser sintering (the production method for project you included). It has its advantages and its disadvantages like all 3D printing methods. For us, it was also important that it did not look like a regular bicycle frame. Some people such as yourself choose to only view the project in the context of bicycle design which is very close minded. You should have another read through the article and not just look at the pictures.