Superstrata, a Silicon Valley-based bicycle brand linked with composite AM service provider Arevo, just unveiled its flagship product: the world’s first made-to-measure 3D-printed e-bicycle with an impact-resistant unibody carbon fiber frame.
The Superstrata touts a true unibody construction, 3D printed in a single pass of continuous carbon fiber thermoplastic composite. Unlike other carbon fiber bikes whose frames are glued and bolted together using dozens of individual parts and fabricated from previous-generation thermoset composite materials, the Superstrata frame is constructed without joints or glue for seamless strength. It’s also produced using next-generation thermoplastic materials, making it extremely impact resistant, yet remarkably lightweight.
Superstrata uses an advanced 3D printing process which allows for an unprecedented level of customization. Arevo had demonstrated the process earlier this year. The frame can be tailored to riders’ heights, weights, arm and leg lengths, riding positions and even preferred stiffness levels. With over 500,000 possible combinations, Superstrata is the most versatile carbon fiber bike ever made. While the price is not for everyone, the bike shows that 3D printing is coming of age, with the ability to deliver top-tier products that can only be produced by 3D printing, even though the fact that they are 3D printed is ultimately irrelevant to the final user, other than for the possibilities and functionalities it enables.
Manufacturing on Demand
“This bike was designed to leverage all the benefits of this new manufacturing technology to get the best of both worlds: strength and lightness,” said Bill Stephens, an award-winning bicycle designer and the creative force behind Superstrata.
Two versions will be available: Terra, a standard bicycle, and Ion, an e-bicycle that can be fully charged in two hours, providing for up to a 55-mile range. Both Terra and Ion will feature integrated data and power wiring throughout the frame, enabling a variety of electronic upgrades. Additional options include different riding styles (racing, street, gravel, or touring), wheel material (metal or carbon fiber), and colorways (light or dark).
“My Olympic race bikes were light but would crack when pushed too hard or crashed. Having a bike that’s light like other carbon fiber bikes but really tough is a dream come true,” said Sky Christopherson, two-time former Olympian cyclist and world record holder for the velodrome sprint.
The Superstrata Terra Bicycle will retail for $2,799 / £2,599 and the Ion E-Bicycle for $3,999 / £3699. Early bird prices are Terra $1,499 / £1,420 and Ion $1,999 / £1,895, as both are available for pre-order now. Shipping begins in December 2020.
You might also like:
What you can and cannot do with additive manufacturing in Formula 1: These limitations don’t apply to prototyping, of course. You can do a lot of that with AM, even directly on the track. Production requirements are stricter. That’s actually strange because in many cases AM could reduce production costs and make innovative teams with smaller economic possibilities more competitive. In fact, that seems to be what the F1 wanted to achieve by introducing a salary cap in 2021. But the reality of it is a bit more complex.
* This article is reprinted from 3D Printing Media Network. If you are involved in infringement, please contact us to delete it.
Author: Davide Sher
Leave A Comment