Using robotic arms as 3D printers allows metals and resins to be printed mid-air in any direction without the need for support structures.
The bicycle was designed as part of a three month research project at the AMS Building Fieldlab into the viability of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) a 3D printing technique based on MIG welding.The AMS Building Fieldlab is a collaboration between MX3D, TU Delft and AMS (Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions). The collaboration focuses on the wider impact of WAAM in the city environment.
Stef de Groot, student in the Arc Bicycle team, said: “It was important for us to design a functional object that people use every day. Being students in the Netherlands, a bicycle naturally came to mind. A bicycle frame is a good test for the technology because of the complex forces involved.”
According to the students, the bike is “primarily a concept bicycle” but they hope that others will take note of the project and build on their research for future 3D printed bicycles.
