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Sustainability

3D-printed bike

New01bike: a recycled polycarbonate frame printed in about eight hours

Indexlab / Polytechnic University of Milan

Francisco Martins Carabetta, a designer from São Paulo, defended his master’s research at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, in April, presenting an innovative 3D-printing technique in which every layer increases the strength of the material, in addition to an example of its application: a 3D-printed bicycle made of 100% recycled polycarbonate, a highly resistant type of plastic. The prototype was developed in partnership with Italian industrial technology company Gimac Engineering, which specializes in plastics processing and a technique called robotic arm 3D printing, also known as robotic additive manufacturing (RAM). The bicycle, known as New01bike, can be printed in approximately eight hours by two robots—one prints the structure while the other makes the attachments. The manufacturing technology can be used to tailor the bike precisely to the rider’s height. It was one of the attractions of Milan Design Week 2022 in June.

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