Trumpf presents additively manufactured titanium brake levers at Eurobike
Trumpf, Ditzingen, Germany, has collaborated with bicycle brake manufacturer Trickstuff to develop additively manufactured titanium brake levers for bicycles, showcasing the results at this year’s Eurobike trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, June 21-15.
Until now, the bicycle industry has generally used carbon for high-quality brake levers, which cannot be recycled. Titanium, however, has a cleaner environmental footprint than carbon and is more robust. Additionally, regardless of whether they are using titanium or other materials, manufacturers can use Additive Manufacturing to customise brake levers and the lever forces of the brakes to suit the cyclist.
Christian Lengwenat, application engineer at TRUMPF shared further advantages, stated, “Since 3D printers from TRUMPF are also designed for series production, the bicycle industry can also use them to manufacture large quantities. As a result, components that are subject to heavy stress can be produced cost-effectively.”
Another benefit of Additive Manufacturing is that, traditionally, manufacturers have mostly milled the prototype parts which is time-consuming and expensive. “With 3D printers,” Lengwenat explained, “manufacturers can produce different prototypes simultaneously in one printing process. This speeds up the prototyping process, which is important for the bicycle industry, many times over.”
