Lightweight design helps to reduce the weight of the entire vehicle and increase vehicle speed, while high-strength titanium alloy frames are conducive to effective power transmission, improved mobility, and have excellent shock absorption capabilities.

1. Metal additive manufacturing makes bicycle manufacturing easier
The company stated that the decision to adopt metal additive manufacturing technology is to address the challenges faced by the Chinese bicycle industry in developing high-end parts. Through precise control and high-quality equipment, metal 3D printing technology helps to produce complex structural components while meeting industry requirements for accuracy (0.03 millimeters). Customized features can optimize the rider's posture and energy output.

Compared with traditional processes such as precision casting, CNC machining, wire cutting, welding, calibration, and surface treatment, metal 3D printing simplifies the production process. This has shortened the production cycle by 30%, saved more than 20% of materials, improved production efficiency, strengthened welding areas, reduced labor intensity, shortened working hours, and paved the way for future robot automatic welding.

In the past, efforts to manufacture bicycles using metal 3D printing technology made headlines. For example, bicycle manufacturer Sturdy Cycles uses Headmate Materials' Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) technology to produce titanium alloy bicycle parts. In a previous collaboration, the company collaborated with RAM3D to produce 3D printed components for its road bike.



The British cycling team is seeking the help of Renishao to 3D print aluminum and titanium parts for their track bikes exhibited at the 2022 Tokyo Olympics. Canyon collaborated with Materialise to launch a 3D printed mountain bike prototype for the German cycling magazine's "Green Cycling" campaign, showcasing a sustainable manufacturing method.



2. BLT metal additive manufacturing capability, serving the larger 3D printing field



In 2022, due to the integration of BLT's Laser Powder Bed Melting (LPBF) metal 3D printing equipment, especially BLT-A320, Titan Super Bond's research and production capabilities in the field of metal 3D printing have significantly improved. With the comprehensive support of BLT, this integration has played a crucial role in the success of Titan Super Bond and made significant contributions to its position in the high-end bicycle market.



The cooperation between both parties effectively solved the problems of deformation control and weight reduction for complex parts, and solved the major obstacles faced by parts with a wall thickness of only 0.9 millimeters. Despite numerous difficulties, through joint efforts, a comprehensive solution covering production processes, part design, support, and lattice control was ultimately formed. This comprehensive approach ensures that 3D printed components successfully pass ISO 4210 dynamic fatigue strength testing, affirming quality and durability.