Photo: Omer Sagiv
Does manufacturing bicycles on demand sound a bit wacky? Maybe it does to some, but the idea definitely sounded great to industrial designed Omer Sagiv. So he mustered his creativity and came up with Luna, a bicycle which mixes 3D-printed parts with off-the-mill ones into a concept which may play an important role in making the industry more efficient and even more fun.
It’s hard to decide which is the most important feature of Sagiv’s concept, so we’ll just pick a random order. First of all, it’s the on-demand thing, which minimizes the stocking needs and reduces the costs with rent, additional workers, security and all. The designer doesn’t specify how long it would take to 3D print a bike’s components. We can guesstimate a matter of hours, which makes day after (or so) orders viable. Even so, a waiting time of several days is no drama when it comes to such creations.
Even more, the design of the bike can be instantly changed as needed, with no other manufacturing-related components needed. The builder just loads up the CAD model and the 3D printer will take care of everything, with excellent on-the-fly adjustability.
This versatility also makes the Luna future-proof, as making changes in the design is easy and doesn’t involve too many costs. When special demands are received from a customer or when technological advances require design updates, the 3D printer will quickly implement them without hassle.
Luna can mix fashionable designs with functional approaches, while maintaining the same good-looking attire and without impacting safety or usability, and this feature is simply great. Obviously taking the extra step and implementing electric mobility is most likely the next stage in the development of such concepts, and by all means, Luna will be ready for the future.
Until 3D printing establishes a former foothold in our civilization, it’s always great to see guys like Omer Sagiv imagining what the not-so-distant-future might bring.
No moulds, no tooling needed
Using only few ready-made components and keeping a strict eye on the quality of the 3D-printed ones provides whoever would pick the project up with very little extra work to do. No tooling is needed and no expensive moulds are involved in the manufacturing process, which reduces costs.Even more, the design of the bike can be instantly changed as needed, with no other manufacturing-related components needed. The builder just loads up the CAD model and the 3D printer will take care of everything, with excellent on-the-fly adjustability.
This versatility also makes the Luna future-proof, as making changes in the design is easy and doesn’t involve too many costs. When special demands are received from a customer or when technological advances require design updates, the 3D printer will quickly implement them without hassle.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) brings in the goodies
The fancy features commonly met in other modern bikes are so far absent from Luna, but there’s little to no limit at all when it comes to making things more complex. The concept exudes lightweight construction and clean shapes, thanks to the structural strength of the nylon used for the selective laser sintering (SLS) printer.Luna can mix fashionable designs with functional approaches, while maintaining the same good-looking attire and without impacting safety or usability, and this feature is simply great. Obviously taking the extra step and implementing electric mobility is most likely the next stage in the development of such concepts, and by all means, Luna will be ready for the future.
Until 3D printing establishes a former foothold in our civilization, it’s always great to see guys like Omer Sagiv imagining what the not-so-distant-future might bring.
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