It's All How You Frame It
Traditionally, bikes have been made via an intricate process of assembling many different parts. In the past few years, there’s a new method of manufacturing that has come on the scene for the custom fabrication of bikes: 3D printing.
Before we get any further, note that the term “3D printed bike” generally refers to a 3D printed bike frame, as 3D printers can’t print all of the parts of a bike (think tires and spokes), yet.
In this article, we’ll be going over our top five favorite 3D printed bike projects. Some are even available for sale!
If you’re interested in printing your own frame, you’ll likely need to use some complicated materials that your average desktop 3D printer couldn’t handle. If that’s the case, try Craftcloud by All3DP. You’ll benefit from access to not only professional 3D printing expertise but also the latest and greatest in materials.
And now, let’s check out these cool rides!
Empire Cycles
Empire Cycles is a British bicycle designer and manufacturer that’s using 3D printing to print bikes out of a titanium alloy.
Their titanium bike frame is made through a process called topological optimization. Simply put, topological optimization uses software to determine the best design for balancing stresses, functionality, and the amount of material. This allows for frames to be about 30% lighter than many conventional bikes.
Furthermore, their titanium alloy is extremely durable due to its “near perfect densities of greater than 99.7%“, according to Renishaw. This bike is available for purchase, however, with a price point of $6,483, you might not see very many around town.
Primary 3D printed material: Titanium
Price: ~$6,483
Who made it? Empire Cycles and Renishaw
Where to get it? Renishaw
Urwahn Engineering
E-bikes are by no means a new concept, but the idea of 3D printing E-bikes certainly is, and that’s exactly what the company Urwahn Engineering has developed.
If you’ve ever ridden on an electric bike, or any electrically powered mode of self transportation for that matter, you know how heavy they can be. With the battery, the motors, and the frame, the pounds seem to keep adding up. So, the use of 3D printed lightweight materials is a serious advantage to companies making these bikes.
Urwahn 3D prints their E-bike frame out of steel, allowing for a lighter than usual frame, but still maintaining durability. It boasts a range on a single charge of up to 80 km. With their high-capacity battery and lightweight design, you can expect speeds of up to 25 km/h.
The use of steel for 3D printed bikes certainly proves to be a valid option with its durable qualities, yet the price of this E-bike is about $5,100, so it may also be a while before this bike is commonly used.
Primary 3D printed material: Steel
Price: ~$5,100
Who made it? Urwahn Engineering
Where to get it? Urwahn Engineering
Superstrata
California-based bicycle brand Superstrata has collaborated with Arevo, a company specializing in carbon fiber manufacturing, to produce custom-built, 3D printed bikes. Its flagship product, available as either a regular bike or an e-bike, is printed in one continuous (unibody) carbon fiber piece. The frame reportedly only weighs 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg).
These bikes start at just $1,499. For some context, traditional carbon fiber bicycles are made with lots of parts and are extremely pricy, ranging from around $4,000 to over $10,000. If you want to give it a try, there’s also the option of buying just the 3D printed carbon fiber wheels. All bikes and parts are expected to ship in December 2020.
Primary 3D printed material: Carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastic
Price: Starts at $1,499
Who made it? Superstrata
Where to get it? Indiegogo
MX3D
Since its founding in 2014, MX3D has specialized in robotics and uses additive manufacturing to make products faster and cheaper. Their Arc Bike II is an example of a lightweight, 3D printed, and customizable frame that’s tailored to the riders’ needs and size.
Their use of a 3D printed aluminum frame allows for a sleek design that’s lighter, more durable, and faster to manufacture. If you’re interested in 3D printing your own bike, you can (for a price) use their software. You’ll input your size and then the specs get translated into a design that can be printed in under 24 hours.
Primary 3D printed material: Aluminum
Price: Inquiry only
Who made it? MX3D
Where to get it? MX3D
ColorFabb
This 3D printed bike differs from the rest of the list as it’s something you can print on your own. It doesn’t have the same unibody design as some other 3D printed bikes, but it’s completely customizable through SolidWorks, and all of the files are available on Thingiverse.
The material used to print this bike is a filament sold by ColorFabb called XT-CF20, a carbon fiber filament that contains 20% specially-sourced carbon fibers, according to ColorFabb’s website.
The maker also provides some printing tips to help you with this print project. The maker printed his frame on an Ultimaker Original Plus (FDM printer) with a 0.8-mm nozzle and at 100% infill. Whatever your print settings, remember to ensure the safety of your bike before using it!
Primary 3D printed material: ColorFabb XT-CF20 carbon fiber filament
Price: File is free
Who made it? ColorFabb
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Lead image source: Renishaw
License: The text of "3D Printed Bike: The Most Amazing Projects" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.