Trek Bicycles Uses Objet Connex 3D Printer with ABS-like Material to Test Bike Parts in Real Time!

REHOVOT, Israel, October 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

3D printing process reduces 4-week prototyping process to just 1 day.

Any avid cyclist knows that to beat the pack on the road or mountain trail you've got to be fast; you've got to pay attention to every detail, and you've got to push every limit. And your bike has to keep up. Trek, the name trusted by competitive and leisure cyclists worldwide, applies these same principles to designing new parts for its top-class bicycles. It uses Objet Connex multi-material 3D printer to speed through design iterations and confirm the fit and function of bike parts early on in the design process - reducing lead times from 28 days to just 1 day, saving precious time to market (view video).

Using the Objet Connex500 multi-material 3D printer, designers in Trek's Prototype Development Group can now print a fully-functional 3D bike part they can use on their bikes in just one day, instead of waiting four weeks for a CNC part. With the prototype parts printed in Objet's new ABS-like material, engineers can test the fit and function in the toughest real-life conditions. They can insert a 3D printed prototype into a working bicycle and take it out on the trail to test performance - early on in the design cycle, when it's easier and cheaper to adjust the part design.

Watch how Objet 3D parts have transformed Trek Bicycle Corp.'s design and development - view video.

Objet multi-material 3D printing wins the day… And more

In 2010, When Trek was searching for a new solution for rapid prototyping new bike parts, a demonstration of the Objet Connex500's multi-material 3D printing capabilities made it Trek's ultimate choice. Trek's team were particularly impressed with the machine's unique ability to print both rigid and flexible materials together into a single prototype - enabling their designers to achieve a closer look, feel and function of their intended end-products.  

Then, after working with the Objet Connex500 for a short time, additional benefits soon came to fore.

"Our designers have a whole new world to work with for prototyping, says Mike Zeigle, Manager of Trek's Prototype Development Group. "Printing with Objet is much less time-consuming and more cost-effective than using our CNC machines for this purpose; it has reduced our prototype lead times from 4 weeks to just 1 day and in many cases to just hours. With the Objet Connex multi-material 3D printer our engineers can produce multiple design iterations, perfecting our design, way beyond what they could have done if we just relied on CNC parts."

We've got great examples of something that starts out as an Objet part, goes into a CNC part, is fabricated, and then goes on to either a world cup or championship level Trek bicycle, all made with an Objet part from the start."

View video.

Read Case Study.

About Trek

Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek Bicycle Corporation is a top maker of high-end bikes, which it sells through independent specialty bicycle shops worldwide. Trek makes mountain, road, children's, tandem, police, and BMX bikes under brands Trek, Gary Fisher, and Bontrager. Trek customers pay top dollar for innovations in racing geometry, smooth suspensions, and custom paint. In addition to high-performance bicycles, the firm sells technical gear and clothing. Trek Bicycle sponsors racing teams and athletes, including Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner (1999-2005) of cycling's grandest race, the Tour de France.

About Objet

Objet Ltd., is a leading provider of high quality, cost effective inkjet-based 3D printing systems and materials. A global company, Objet has offices in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and India.

Objet's 3D printing systems and 3D printing materials are ideal for any company involved in the manufacture or design of physical products using 3D software or other 3D content. Companies using Objet's solutions can be typically found in sectors such as consumer goods & electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, education, dental, medical and medical devices, architecture, industrial machinery, footwear, sporting goods, toys and service bureaus.

Founded in 1998, the company has thousands of customers worldwide including a substantial share of the relevant Fortune 100 and Fortune 500. Its award-winning technology (12 awards in 5 years) is based upon over 110 patents and patent pending inventions.

Objet's advanced 3D printing systems and range of over 60 materials enable professionals to build prototypes that accurately simulate the true look, feel and function of an end-product, even complex, assembled goods. The Objet Connex™ line of multi-material 3D printers features the world's only technology to simultaneously jet 2 materials. With this, users can print many different materials into a single part and print various mixed parts on the same build tray. Users can also create advanced composite materials, or Digital Materials™ featuring unique mechanical and thermal properties. Objet's range of over 60 3D printing materials simulate properties ranging from rigid to rubber-like, transparent to opaque and standard to ABS-grade engineering plastics, with a large number of in-between shore grades and shades.

Objet's 3D printers are available in a range of form-factors, from cost-effective desktop 3D printers ideal for entry-level professionals all the way to industrial-scale multi-material machines for front-line designers and top manufacturers. Objet's 3D printers feature the industry's highest-resolution 3D printing quality, based on 16-micron (0.0006 in.) super-thin layering, wide material versatility, office friendliness and ease of operation.

For more information, visit us at http://www.objet.com, and for more about 3D printing industry-related news, business issues and trends, read the Objet blog.

© 2011 Objet, Objet24, Objet30, Objet Studio, Quadra, QuadraTempo, FullCure, SHR, Eden, Eden250, Eden260, Eden260V, Eden330, Eden350, Eden350V, Eden500V, Job Manager, CADMatrix, Connex, Connex260, Connex350, Connex500, Alaris, Alaris30, PolyLog, TangoBlack, TangoGray, TangoPlus, TangoBlackPlus, VeroBlue, VeroBlack, VeroClear, VeroDent, VeroGray, VeroWhite, VeroWhitePlus, Durus, Digital Materials, PolyJet, PolyJet Matrix, ABS-like and ObjetGreen are trademarks or registered trademarks of Objet Geometries Ltd. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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