The very first ''roadworthy'' 3D printed motorcycle...

[RhynoCZ]

The very first ''roadworthy'' 3D printed motorcycle, made by TE Connectivity, a Swiss based company. The design is based on a Hardly Davidson Softtail model and the only purpose of this motorcycle is to show what is possible with the latest 3D printing technology today.

It's powered by a 750W electric motor, about 1hp, with the top speed of 24kph/15mph. The whole motorcycle weighs 113kg, took 1000 hours and £16,325 to print out. The frame max. load capacity is 180kg.

No need to remind you, that it's all made out of ABS plastic. The wheel bearings are made out of a specially engineered plastic. Well, the tyres, brakes, fork tubes, wires, motor etc. is not plastic.

Original link (source): https://www.motorkari.cz/clanky/moto-novinky/ostatni/prvni-funkcni-motorka-vyrobena-na-3d-tiskarne-31636.html

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/20150613131311-31636_jpgresize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/31636/20150613131448-welcome_the_first_3d_printed_functional_motorcycle_1_jpg_resize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/31636/20150613131448-welcome_the_first_3d_printed_functional_motorcycle_2_jpg_resize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/31636/20150613131449-welcome_the_first_3d_printed_functional_motorcycle_3_jpg_resize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/31636/20150613131449-welcome_the_first_3d_printed_functional_motorcycle_4_jpg_resize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/cache/clanky/2015-06/31636/20150613131449-welcome_the_first_3d_printed_functional_motorcycle_5_jpg_resize_1000x830__type_jpg_.jpg
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[thx1138]

better than James May's lego one anyway.

[talkToTheHat]

750W, only two orders of magnitude out. 75kW is approximately fun?

or

£16325 is an order of magnitude out for a bike of 7.5kW, so still an order of magnitude out for learner legal fun. Still two orders of magnetude away.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Baffler186]

Good concept to show what can be done. Like anything, the first batch will be expensive but as technology progresses they may well be affordable in a few years. I expect the budget bikes in future will have many printed parts which are knocked together with standard bearings,discs and engine internals.

They might not actually be much worse than many of the Chinese bikes in the market today.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Nexus Icon]

All that shows is that FDM machines are getting bigger. Nothing to see here.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[nowhere.elysium]

[weasley]

[Nexus Icon]

[RhynoCZ]

Printing something in metal seems to be pointless. Isn't it easier to have basically a very similar CAD program and use a CNC to cut it out from a material of your choice?

Also, and metallurgy is not my area of expertise, don't you need some of the parts to be forged, drawn etc. to have certain properties? I mean, the 3D printer is basically a casting machine and cast iron for instance, is very fragile, isn't it?

I don't think they should print out all the parts, but the frame is actually very interesting. ABS plastic frame that can carry up to 180 kg is impressive.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[cheeseman]

Surely the whole point of 3D printing would be to produce on-off unique devices. Copying a crappy cruiser is missing the purpose entirely.
Would be more impressed if they'd made a futuristic looking bike that looked like it was powered by ion beams but propelled by wind and solar power with a 10W electric motor.
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XJ600S->Sprint ST 955i * ; Now ST1100 + W650

[talkToTheHat]

you can make shapes by 3d printing that can't be done by conventional cnc machines. Really infuriating when a model arrives on my desk and I have to explain using small words and yellow crayon that it can't be reproduced with the required properties. If anything it was easier when I did bits of vehicle than trying to explain the same with bits of software or worse still the impossibility of making a recording of someone who can;t sing/play sound remotely good.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[deadwolf]