Since it can be made on-demand, there is no storage cost

Dec 3, 2014 15:34 GMT  ·  By

To make a bicycle, you would normally have to acquire parts, which would ideally be available in storage from previously set-up stockpiles. The bikes, too, usually need to be stored in a warehouse somewhere after being created.

Offering a bicycle on demand can eliminate all stocking costs entirely, thanks to 3D printing technology.

Industrial designer Omer Sagiv has introduced the Luna 3D printed bike, which combines regular bicycle parts (mostly the wheels and mechanisms) with 3D printed ones.

The process goes like this: first someone sets an order for a bike, with or without personal modifications to the model, then a worker loads the model to a 3D printer and hits the print button.

After that, it should only take a few hours or a day for everything to be printed. The final part is a straightforward matter of assembling the parts with off-the-shelf components, and shipping the bike straight to the customer's address.

No need to pay rent for warehouses, or to hire extra workers to make the bars and tubes through conventional means.

Being able to modify the Luna's design so easily also makes sure that it never goes out of date. All thanks to SLS 3D printing technology.

Selective laser sintering uses a high-power laser to merge powder into solid objects. It is, to date, the only technique usable with metals. Barring SLM, which melts powder all the way to liquid form before letting the metal harden again.

You can see in the gallery just how unique a Luna bike can become, even without all the fancy elements modern bikes like to boast. If anything ever comes of this concept, you will be able to work together with the builders to apply your own theme to it.

The Lune Bicycle (4 Images)

The Lune 3D printed bike, perspectives
The Lune 3D printed bike, side viewThe Lune 3D printed bike components
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