TRUMPF – a German manufacturer of industrial machines, including laser 3D printers for metal, presented bicycle brakes printed from titanium at the EUROBIKE bicycle fair in Frankfurt am Main. The project was created in cooperation with the manufacturer of bicycle brakes – Trickstuff. This is the first use of 3D printing in the production of bicycle accessories, which allowed the creation of high-performance and at the same time extremely durable parts.
In order to create strong and light components, the bicycle industry usually turns to carbon fiber. However, the material does not have a good ecological reputation – manufacturers are unable to recycle carbon fiber and must dispose of these parts at the end of their life, usually in waste incineration plants. Titanium has a better environmental balance compared to carbon fiber and is much more durable.
3D printers enable the production of brake levers for individual needs. This applies not only to the design of the titanium components, but also to the strength of the action to the individual preferences of the rider. “TRUMPF 3D printers are designed for series production, which means that the bicycle industry can use them to produce large quantities of parts. As a result, highly stressed components can be manufactured much more economically,” said Christian Lengwenat, application engineer at TRUMPF.
TRUMPF 3D printers also enable companies in the bicycle industry to speed up the prototyping process. “With 3D printers, manufacturers can produce different prototypes simultaneously in one 3D printing process. This speeds up the process of creating new solutions,” added Lengwenat. Until now, manufacturers in the prototyping area used CNC milling, which was time-consuming and expensive.
Source: www.trumpf.com
Photos: www.trumpf.com (press materials / all rights reserved)