GSD Global, an engineering company creating e-bikes, turned to Sandvik to investigate the possibility of 3D printing their electric bike nodes in titanium. The result was that they could get a lighter, more durable, and much more energy-efficient solution.
The popularity of electric bikes has risen in the past years as sustainability continues to be at the forefront of manufacturing solutions. However, the titanium that is used in the bike’s motor nodes is difficult to machine. By developing the design of the motor nodes and adapting them to be additively manufactured, GSD Global and Sandvik found they could actually reduce their costs by up to 75 percent.
Together, they’ve participated at several North American bike shows, and testify that up until recently there have been very few e-bikes present on the scene. Part of the explanation is thought to be that the titanium parts that for example constitute the motor node, holding the electric motor onto the bike frame, are very difficult to machine using processes such as CNC and more costly.
By providing their OEMs with titanium motor nodes, 3D-printed by Sandvik, GSD Global can enable them to create the ideal e-bikes that will not only cost less and thereby be increasingly sellable but also last longer. The opportunities that derive from combining titanium powder with additive manufacturing holds several other advantages in terms of sustainability as well, for example by making the bikes lighter and thereby more energy efficient.
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