Somerset-based custom bicycle producerSturdy Cycles已将其钛自行车零件的生产转换为德国3D印刷局的冷金属融合技术（CMF）Headmade Materials。
The two companies will work together to 3D print titanium components such as crank arms, frameset connectors and chainstay parts, for Sturdy Cycles’ Fiadh titanium road bike using CMF, with Sturdy Cycles owner and frame builder Tom Sturdy favoring the technology over SLM.
“Since Headmade Materials is very closely involved in part development, Tom highlighted the advantages of our technology to us during a conversation,” said Andreas Schertler, Applications Engineer at Headmade Materials.
Headmade’s CMF technology
Headmade Materials was established in 2019 after being spun off from the polymer research instituteDas Kunstsoff-Zentrum（SKZ）在德国武兹堡。该公司的创始人克里斯蒂安·史迪格尔（Christian Staudigel）和克里斯蒂安·菲舍尔（Christian FischerCMF的发展。
CMF broadly combines metal sintering with SLS in a novel manufacturing technique, with Headmade’s proprietary 3D printing material setting it apart from conventional SLS processes. The firm’s metal powder feedstock is integrated with a plastic binder matric that both improves its flowability and increases its compatibility with different machines.
The four-step CMF process starts with upscaling the CAD file of a target object before it is produced layer-by-layer in a similar fashion to SLS 3D printing, but at a temperature below 80°C. Operating at a lower temperature significantly minimizes heating and cooling times, therefore preventing the need for external cooling devices, while also offering energy and time-saving advantages.
Following the printing phase, parts are then de-caked, post-processed, debinded, and sintered. During printing, the plastic binder contained within Headmade’s proprietary powder resin is melted away and used only as a support structure, delivering parts that the firm claims are comparable to those produced by injection molding.
与坚固周期的合作关系并不是公司CMF技术首次部署用于生产自行车组件的情况。去年，Headmade与3D打印服务局合作元素22到develop a小说3D打印自行车踏板设计dubbed MyTi. Initially可在Kickstarter上提供支持，在关节下发射的无夹式钛踏板Titanumbrand later that year.
3D printing the Fiadh
For its latest bicycle-related project, Headmade has once again teamed up with Element22 to 3D print the titanium components for Sturdy Cycles’ Fiadh titanium road bike. The Fiadh is designed to be a sporty road bike and as such, required durable weight-optimized components.
框架构建器坚固的3D打印并不陌生，以前与Metal 3D打印服务提供商合作过RAM3D到produce titanium componentsfor his other road bike models. Sturdy settled on 3D printing due to its ability to produce parts with complex geometries not achievable via conventional manufacturing means, an integral element to his bespoke bike frame business.
意识到CMF的额外好处后，Sturdy现在将几个钛自行车零件的生产转换为该技术。该技术正在利用以生产3D打印的连接器，这些连接器焊接到Fiadh框架的抛光管上，并容纳主要的自行车组件，例如车把，马鞍和底部支架。
自行车的链条也完全由使用CMF打印的组件3D制成，并且模型的曲柄臂也是如此，现在，它的曲柄臂现在是独立曲柄集的一部分。
由于定制研究周期的企业的性质s, the individual segments of each bike are similar in structure in design however no two bikes are alike. With parts tailored to individual riders, all components are different in their dimensions, which has now become economically feasible in high volumes thanks to Headmade’s CMF technology. In fact, Sturdy now aims to produce annual quantities of the Fiadh in the triple digits.
据他介绍，CMF的出色流程稳定性以及组件的可重复性使这是可能的，这导致了更容易，更有效的框架和部分生产。与SLM生产的技术相比，该技术还减轻了金属零件的压力，而通过该技术实现的改进的零件表面简化了组件的表面完成过程。
Sturdy also attributes efficiency gains to the reduced amount of preparatory work needed to integrate CMF-printed components into the bike manufacturing process, compared to SLM parts. Enhanced part quality delivered by CMF further means that the majority of work can be done on-site at Sturdy’s production facility which in turn reduces costs and coordination efforts with various service providers.
“The production of the components has now been completely taken over by titanium specialist Element22 and we are happy to contribute with our Cold Metal Fusion technology to ensure that these dreamlike road bikes from Sturdy Cycles find their way to many satisfied customers,” said Fischer, Headmade Material’s Managing Director and Co-founder.
According to the more than 40 CEOs, leaders, and experts that shared their2022 3D printing trendspredictions with us, progress within material qualification and increasing demand for higher performance materials illustrate the confidence manufacturers are placing in additive manufacturing technologies, while the technology’s ability to enable mass customization is expected bring “enormous value” to a host of applications to benefit both industries and people.
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Featured image shows坚固的周期的Fiadh Road自行车。通过头戴式材料照片。
