Meet Industry's 3D-printed titanium bicycle (pictures)
The Solid bike, which includes a built-in navigation system and accompanying smartphone app, was created to assess new trends in product development and manufacturing.
Titanium bike parts, fresh out of the 3D printer
Design firm Industry embraced 3D printing to build a titanium bike it calls the Solid. The technology can't yet produce an entire bike, but Industry used it to make 90 percent of the Solid bike's frame, including these complicated elements. 3D printing will usher in an age of products tailored to individual body shapes and sizes, the company believes.
Industry's Solid 3D-printed bike
The Solid bike is designed for urban transit -- but its real reason for existence is to let Industry suss out future design, engineering and manufacturing trends.
Life-size sketch of Industry's Solid bicycle
To design the Solid bike, Industry staff combined full-size drawings, computer-aided design software from Autodesk and 3D-printed prototype parts.
Solid: a bike with a mobile app
The Solid is accompanied by an app to explain the bike and plot interesting bike routes through Portland, Ore., where Industry is based.
3D-printed plastic prototypes
Prototype elements were 3D printed out of plastic to start with.
Get a grip: 3D-printed titanium parts
The Solid combined 3D-printed components like this handlebar grip and brake lever with conventional titanium tubing in some areas, such as the rest of the handlebar. Industry aimed for a sleek design by routing cables inside the frame; the brake cable can be seen entering the handlebar right next to the brake lever mount.
Printed titanium parts in the rough
3D printing uses a process called laser sintering to fuse titanium powder into parts. Once the parts are 3D printed, finishing touches like smoothing and polishing are applied.
Industry Solid's built-in rack
The Industry Solid has mounting points to attach a custom rack.
Putting a finish on Industry's Solid bicycle
Despite the aid of 3D printing, the finishing process took a lot of manual labor.
Finishing the Solid's stem
The finishing process changes the dimensions of the 3D-printed parts, one aspect of the manufacturing process Industry wanted to study.
Brains of the bike
The Solid has its own GPS electronics for navigation and stolen bike recovery, as well as a small Arduino-based computer. The computer sends buzzing signals to one handlebar or the other when it's time for a rider to make a turn in that direction. The buzzes get more insistent as the turn approaches.
Industry brainstorming room
Industry wanted to study new high-tech areas of design, but it also used traditional paper sketches and printouts to sift through design options.
Iterations: Solid bike frame ideas
Industry considered a range of bicycle frame options for the Solid bike.
Ti Cycles welding the Solid
3D printing can't yet make a whole bike frame. Industry relied on a partner, Ti Cycles, to weld components together and stress-test the result.
Industry Solid 3D-printed titanium bike
The Solid bike has a clean look because gearshift and brake cables are routed inside the frame.
Industry Solid transmission
The Solid uses a Shimano Alfine Di2 11-speed rear hub and a Gates carbon belt drive.
Built-in dynamo-powered headline
The Industry Solid includes a built-in, dynamo-powered headlight so riders don't have to mess with batteries.
Smartphone app to explore by bike
A smartphone app is designed to get people to explore sights in Portland, Ore., by bicycle.