3D printing is in the frame
Hollow steel 3D motorcycle frames are here
Motorcycle frames are always evolving to make them stronger and lighter. Well now a new evolution is occurring – a brand new hollow lightweight steel trellis motorcycle frame has been developed by a Spanish university in collaboration with ArcelorMittal Steel – and interestingly, it is 3D printed.
3D printing is finding its way into many areas of manufacturing now, but printing hollow steel tubes has eluded the researchers so far – but now they have solved that one. In a statement the new development was disclosed thus:
“The University of Nebrija and ArcelorMittal have succeeded in producing a steel frame using the 3D-printing process, which is very light, but also has the necessary stiffness.”
A mechanical engineering student from the University of Nebija called Sergio Corbera stated:
“The ability to create hollow parts was the biggest unknown in 3D printing metal. We are talking about wall thicknesses between 0.8 and 1mm in the chassis.”
Because the steel frame is hollow it can be super light, weighing in at a mere 3.8kg according to Paula Rodriguez a research and development engineer at ArcelorMittal steel. The steel used is just a standard steel, nothing particularly different there, it is the innovation of being able to print it hollow which is the salient factor in the weight and strength of the frame. Aluminium which is light, would not be strong enough at these thicknesses and steel if it was not hollow would prove too heavy, so this development is the perfect marriage of all the required factors and looks destined to go far.
KTM for one, has already been using 3D printed parts for their MotoGP bikes saying that 3D printing offers greater flexibility for what they need, so this new technique will be greeted with open arms.
This development was fist reported by the German
Motorcycles News and the image is courtesy of them too.
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