3D printed bike

I think most people have a very basic understanding of what 3D printing can achieve. I work in the aerospace industry, an industry that has used rapid prototyping for years. Now however, the system has gone from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacture.

For example, the link below shows some of the more advanced manufacturing techniques going….

YouTube - DMLS in action by Morris Technologies

There are a range of methods of 3D printing, and new ones allow you to print a number of materials at the same time. So you can have one side of an object to be Titanium and the other side to be Magnesium, without a weld.

Also, if you don’t have welds or joints you don’t have stress conentrations which are almost always the point of failure. So once the tech gets a lot better, you may well be able to print a whole frame without any joints. Also given the fact that it could be made from a number of materials (maybe even a mixture of metals and plastics) you could tailor the frame to have properties you want. Such as, stiff front end and a more compliant rear. The options are enormous.

The technology is still in its infancy.

Also, think of it this way…. huge companies such as Rolls Royce are investing very heavily in this technology. And they have spent a lot of time and money on seeing if its going to be worth their while.

So saying “for some reason people have started to try and make SLS printed products, which is just retarded” just shows how little you know about the manufacturing technique and what it can deliver.

Also, the cost is actually not that high. As there is no waste you only use what you need. You get almost 100% use from your material.

A while ago I saw a titanium femur joint being manufactured. It was solid Ti at the ball of the joint and the rest of it got more and more porous which means the bone would grow into it. So after a while it would be a perfect joint. Amazing stuff.

I am aware of all this... its purely my opinion.
I think the metal sintering could offer some great new manufacturing process'.

What I'm saying, is that people are starting to use 3D printing purley because they can, not because they need too. Like this bike, for example. 100% pointless with the current technolgy. Why would you spend that amount of money making a bike that is taking several steps back in bike design.

You are taking what i said out of context. I was refering to this stupid bike, and the all the other pointless products that are being 3d printed at the moment, purely because they can, not because it makes the product better in any way, or cheaper to produce... quite the opposite in fact.

You summed it up, the options are indeed enormous, but the technology still has a long way to go.
trying to make a working bike with the currect technology, is like trying to teach a six year old to drive.... possible, but pretty pointless.