Asia's first fully 3D printed titanium alloy bicycle frame comes out!

近日，自行车制造商Titan Super Bond与铂力特（BLT）合作，开发出了亚洲首款全3D打印钛合金自行车架。Titan Super Bond采用了BLT-A320设备生产的高精度钛合金自行车把和车头管，以轻质、高强度、耐腐蚀和使用寿命长而著称。

   lightweight design helps to reduce vehicle weight and increase speed, while high-strength titanium alloy frame helps to effectively transfer power, improve maneuverability, and has excellent damping capacity.

Full 3D printing titanium alloy bicycle frame

   1. Metal production makes bicycles easier.

  该公司表示，采用金属增材制造技术的决定是为了应对中国自行车行业在开发高端零件时所面临的挑战。通过精确控制和高质量设备，金属3D打印技术有助于生产复杂的结构部件，同时满足行业对精度（0.03毫米）的要求。定制功能可优化骑行者的姿势和能量输出。

Compared with traditional processes such as precision casting, NC machining, wire cutting, welding, calibration and surface treatment, 3D metal printing simplifies the production process. This shortens the production cycle by 30%, saves more than 20% of materials, improves production efficiency, strengthens the welding area, reduces labor intensity, shortens working hours, and paves the way for future robot automatic welding.

Metal 3D printing bicycle parts

   's efforts to make bicycles using metal 3D printing technology have made headlines in the past. For example, bicycle manufacturer Sturdy Cycles uses Headmade Materials' cold metal melting (CMF) technology to produce titanium alloy bicycle parts. In a previous partnership, the company partnered with RAM3D to print 3D parts for its road bikes.

The    British cycling team sought Renishaw's help in 3D printing aluminum and titanium parts for its track bicycles on display at the 2022 Tokyo Olympic Games. Canyon partnered with Materialise to launch a 3D printed mountain bike prototype for the German Bicycle Magazine's Green Bike campaign, demonstrating a sustainable manufacturing method.

   2, BLT metal manufacturing capacity to serve the larger field of 3D printing

   2022 has significantly increased its R & D and production capacity in the field of metal 3D printing due to the integration of BLT laser powder bed melting (LPBF) metal 3D printing equipment, especially BLT-A320,Titan Super Bond in the metal 3D printing field. Coupled with the full support of BLT, this integration has played a key role in Titan Super Bond's success and made an important contribution to its position in the high-end bicycle market.

The cooperation between the two sides of    has effectively solved the problems of deformation control and weight reduction of complex parts, and solved the major obstacles faced by parts with a wall thickness of only 0.9mm. Despite the difficulties, through joint efforts, an overall solution covering production process, part design, support and lattice control is finally formed. This comprehensive approach ensures that 3D printing components successfully pass the ISO 4210 dynamic fatigue strength test, affirming quality and durability.

Two BLT-A320 machines in the TITAN SUPER BOND factory

   in addition to bicycle manufacturing, BLT's metal 3D printing technology was previously used in the field of health care. In one example, the company's BLT-A160D metal 3D printer helped develop the world's first flexible robotic system for minimally invasive brain surgery, MicroNeuro. Developed by the artificial Intelligence and Robotics Center of the Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, MicroNeuro integrates a variety of technologies, including multi-stage flexible endoscopes, high-precision control, augmented reality surgical navigation and artificial intelligence.

   in addition, Chinese medical company Wedo Bio-Medical Technology has obtained approval from the Chinese market for the printing of 3D spinal implants WedoCage using BLT's BLT-S210 and BLT-S310 metal 3D printing system. Hydroxyapatite coated porous titanium alloy interbody fusion cage obtained the third type of medical device registration certificate issued by the State Medical device Supervision and Administration Bureau.