Since its birth, human beings have been searching for the dual extension of footsteps and vision, body and mind. From means of transportation to professional cycling bikes, behind each new invention is a testimony to our desire to go to the unknown and explore the world.
In modern society, bicycles can be used for sports, for commuting, and for cycling to explore the boundaries of living space. The addition of metal 3D printing technology has made it have important advantages such as optimized design, rapid prototyping, small batch production, personalized customization and weight reduction, so that everyone pays more attention to the relationship between people, the environment and technology, and truly uses actions to convey the concept of green environmental protection and sustainable development.
Titanium alloy has light weight, high strength, good toughness and corrosion resistance, and is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical, 3C and other fields. Through continuous research and testing, Hebei Hanglun Technology Co., Ltd. successfully applied titanium alloy welding technology to the production of bicycle racks, handlebars and other parts, independently developed the first titanium alloy bicycle in China in 1992, and founded the first titanium alloy bicycle brand Hi-Light in China.
The picture shows the Hi-Light brand bicycle store of Hanglun Technology. In order to meet the needs of different functions, the Hi-Light brand is divided into nearly 10 series and more than 50 models and specifications such as mountain, road, outing, triathlon, BMX, trail car, scooter, etc.
01 The annual output of 3D printed titanium alloy parts will exceed 50,000 pieces
The traditional processing process of titanium materials is extremely difficult. Due to the special composition and structure of titanium material, it must be in place at one time during welding, and it must be welded at the most accurate and perfect angle at the beginning, once the welding is completed, there is almost no room for correction, and the coating part, because of its low molecular adhesion, causes the color to be difficult. These process difficulties are very difficult to test the experience and craftsmanship of the craftsman, so the manufacturing cost is greatly increased, and is reflected in the high price of the product.
In 2023, Voyage Technology will adopt Farsoon Hi-Tech's laser metal 3D printing solution FS350M to achieve the perfect combination of high-end customization and mass production.
"3D printing is a high-end technology, and it is the general trend of the development of the entire industry.
At present, we use precision casting in mass production, and 3D printing for small-batch customized products, which can take into account the needs of bicycle product weight reduction, complex structure integrated forming, high-end customization, etc., while avoiding the high manufacturing cost of single or small batch products, environmental pollution and other problems, effectively shortening the product delivery time, making production more efficient and convenient. ”
Yang Yanpeng
Hebei Shipping Technology Co., Ltd., Deputy General Manager
According to the plan, the annual output of titanium alloy bicycle parts produced by Hanglun Technology using 3D printing technology will exceed 50,000 pieces, which will be applied to a variety of models of bicycles, aiming to provide global customers with better quality, higher strength, lighter and more durable titanium alloy bicycle products.
02 Accelerate design iteration and improve production efficiency
For consumer goods, shortening the production cycle will speed up the brand's response to the market, and in the product design and development process, 3D printing can especially meet the rapid iteration of design prototypes, which not only brings design freedom to titanium alloy bicycle parts, but also accelerates the pace of product launch.
3D printing can realize the integrated formation of complex structures of titanium alloy bicycle parts, save materials, reduce costs, and avoid potential risks caused by welding of complex structures, such as deformation and fatigue damage caused by welding residual stress, and inaccuracy of threaded connections.
Titanium bike chainstays yoke
Printing equipment: FS350M-4
Printing time: 24 hours
Printing material: Ti6Al4V
The 3D printed bicycle rear upper fork yoke is produced by Huashu Hi-Tech FS350M-4 equipment, and the whole page is printed 38 at one time, which only takes 24 hours, which is more than 60% higher than the production efficiency of traditional casting. It adopts a flat pneumatic tube design, 3D printed one-piece molding, and is made of titanium alloy, which is not only very strong and durable, but also very lightweight, which can reduce the impact of wheel turbulence on the frame and improve riding comfort.
03 Topology optimization and weight reduction, long service life of the workpiece
The density of titanium alloy is generally about 4.51g/cm³, which is only 60% of steel. The weight of the titanium alloy frame made by traditional welding methods can be reduced to 1.4kg through the combination of topology optimization and 3D printing technology, and it has successfully passed the ISO4210-6 impact and fatigue test, helping riders increase speed and reduce physical exertion during long-distance exercise.
At the same time, in the case of the same titanium alloy material, the strength and elongation of 3D printed titanium alloy are higher than that of ordinary forgings. After performance testing, the titanium alloy bicycle parts printed by Huashu Hi-Tech FS350M-4 equipment have excellent mechanical properties, and their tensile strength, yield strength and elongation at break reach 1035MPa, 998MPa and 13.5% respectively, and the service life of the workpiece is improved.
04 Won a number of awards, 3D printing empowers the brand
In recent years, according to the sports characteristics of the bicycle, in the design, manufacture and assembly of the frame, the wind resistance is reduced as much as possible, and its cutting-edge technology includes the design of internal wiring and special-shaped tubes, which can hide all wire groups including the braking system and the transmission system inside the frame to improve riding efficiency, and currently has nearly 20 patents, and the design and manufacturing scheme has won many awards such as innovation award, gold award, and best industrial design award.
The introduction of 3D printing technology reflects the classic inheritance of the Hi-Light brand and continuous R&D and innovation, and will continue to meet the diversified needs of consumers with the "high customization" product highlights of 3D printing in the future.
Empowering high-end brands
Innovation and development, technological innovation, 3D printing is affecting people's lifestyles at an unprecedented speed.
Huashu Hi-Tech empowers the titanium alloy bicycle of Hanglun Technology, which is not only a collision of metal 3D printing technology and bicycle production technology, but also a breakthrough and innovation of the existing travel mode.
At the same time, Malu Technology also looks forward to the in-depth application of 3D printing technology in more vertical fields to promote the effective implementation and innovation and upgrading of application development in various industries.