Bicycle material is ‘grown’ from high strength nylon powder
07/03/2011
EADS, the European aerospace and defence group has announced the world's first bike to use a new manufacturing process which it claims has the potential to transform manufacturing around the globe.
EADS unveils worlds first bike to use new manufacturing process
The 'Airbike' is made of nylon but, according to EADS, is strong enough to replace steel or aluminium and requires no conventional maintenance or assembly. It is 'grown' from powder, allowing complete sections to be built as one piece; the wheels, bearings and axle being incorporated within the 'growing' process and built at the same time. Because it can be built to rider specification, it requires no adjustment.
The new manufacturing process is known as Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) and it allows single products to be grown from a fine powder of metal (such as titanium, stainless steel or aluminium), nylon or carbon reinforced plastics from a centre located next to Airbus' site at Filton.
Similar in concept to 3D printing, the bike design is perfected using computer aided design and then constructed by using a laser sintering process which adds successive, thin layers of the chosen structural material until a solid, fully formed bike emerges.
Robin Southwell, chief executive of EADS UK, said: "The Airbike is a fantastic example of British innovation at its very best. The team at EADS in Bristol includes world class engineers who continue to push boundaries by working at the forefront of technology. I believe that ALM technology represents a paradigm shift."
EADS says it has developed the technology to the extent that it can manipulate metals, nylon, and carbon reinforced plastics at a molecular level which allows it to be applied to high stress, safety critical aviation uses. Compared to a traditional, machined part, those produced by ALM are said to be up to 65% lighter but still as strong. The technology is likely to be employed in due course in industrial, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.
Minister for Bus
07/03/2011
EADS, the European aerospace and defence group has announced the world's first bike to use a new manufacturing process which it claims has the potential to transform manufacturing around the globe.
EADS unveils worlds first bike to use new manufacturing process
The 'Airbike' is made of nylon but, according to EADS, is strong enough to replace steel or aluminium and requires no conventional maintenance or assembly. It is 'grown' from powder, allowing complete sections to be built as one piece; the wheels, bearings and axle being incorporated within the 'growing' process and built at the same time. Because it can be built to rider specification, it requires no adjustment.
The new manufacturing process is known as Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) and it allows single products to be grown from a fine powder of metal (such as titanium, stainless steel or aluminium), nylon or carbon reinforced plastics from a centre located next to Airbus' site at Filton.
Similar in concept to 3D printing, the bike design is perfected using computer aided design and then constructed by using a laser sintering process which adds successive, thin layers of the chosen structural material until a solid, fully formed bike emerges.
Robin Southwell, chief executive of EADS UK, said: "The Airbike is a fantastic example of British innovation at its very best. The team at EADS in Bristol includes world class engineers who continue to push boundaries by working at the forefront of technology. I believe that ALM technology represents a paradigm shift."
EADS says it has developed the technology to the extent that it can manipulate metals, nylon, and carbon reinforced plastics at a molecular level which allows it to be applied to high stress, safety critical aviation uses. Compared to a traditional, machined part, those produced by ALM are said to be up to 65% lighter but still as strong. The technology is likely to be employed in due course in industrial, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.
Minister for Bus
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