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Motorcycles
Additive manufacturing has been used intensively for motorcycles prototyping and motorcycle racing. Luigi Dall’Igna, who has lead Ducati’s racing department for the past four years, has tributed the team’s improving results to the increasing use of polymer 3D printing technologies such as Stratasys filament extrusion and polyjet. CRP, a leading Italian SLS and SLA 3D printing service provider – as well as a leading manufacturer of SLS nylon composite powders – has prototyped and put into serial production the Energica motorcycle – the first range of electric superbikes – thanks to its deep experience with AM.
Over the years, motorcycles have often been used to show emerging new possibilities of additive manufacturing technologies. One very high profile case saw large-format 3D printer manufacturer BigRep produce an entire electric motorcycle – the Nera – almost entirely 3D printed. The use of electric powertrains is a key element driving increasing adoption of AM. The relatively lower temperatures generated by the electric motors, coupled with a higher impact from weight reduction, are making metal replacement, 3D printable polymers a more viable option for an increasing number of parts. In metal 3D printing, increasing awareness of topologiìy optimization options is going to make AM a more viable manufacturing process for some high-end models.
Last but not least, motorcycles have traditionally been characterized by high levels of customization. Breathtaking projects such as the recent Honda Monkey or Fuller Moto’s 2029 give us a glimpse into what can be achieved in terms of custom shapes with the growing adoption of metal AM technologies. In this AM Focus we are going to highlight the latest news on 3D printing of motorcycles and motorcycle parts, highlighting the most relevant underlying trends that are characterizing this exciting AM vertical.
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The BMW Group has transposed its 3D printing activities to its motorbike racing team by printing S 1000 RR World Superbike components at the curbside, on-demand. This method allows the…
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Carboni e Metalli, an innovative startup based in the heart of the Italian Motorvalley, worked with metal AM service provider Beam IT to create a radical concept motorcycle using several…
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WASP, the first and leading Italian manufacturer of advanced Delta 3D printers, has been pushing the additive manufacturing industry in new directions since it was founded by Massimo Moretti in…
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It’s clear when looking at the Zeus 8 motorcycle that it is not your run-of-the-mill chopper. With a dramatic elongated body and exposed battery cylinders, the electric motorcycle is a…
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Earlier this year, France-based custom motorbike manufacturer VIBA unveiled a contemporary reimagining of the classic 1970s Honda Monkey motorcycle. The bike, called “Jane,” draws inspiration from the original vehicle’s retro…
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Musashi Seimitsu Industry, a Japanese automotive manufacturing company, has announced a partnership with battery developer KeraCel to develop and bring-to-market 3D printed solid-state batteries for the automotive sector. As a…
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After successfully optimizing its design processes for aircraft and motorcycle engines in collaboration with UK-based metal AM company Renishaw, engine manufacturer Cobra Aero has decided to invest in its own…
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After facing a major setback in March, Italian 3D printing company CRP Group and Energica’s 3D printed electric motorcycles made a successful debut in the first round of the FIM…
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With the climate crisis becoming increasingly more serious, many people are seeking more eco-friendly alternatives to everyday things, like fashion, eating and transport. In the latter category, Polish designer Piotr…
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To make something complicated even more complex, patents in 3D printing do not concern only 3D printing technologies but anything you can invent with them. This latest case is a…
