Polish 3D printers manufacturer Zortrax has unveiled
their first printed motorcycle, all being done on its BIG M300 machine. You
can’t print metal or rubber, but everything you can see on the bike that is
made of plastic, it was done by a printer.
The company took a middleweight motorcycle, stripped
it off and started to design a new body for it. Parts like the fairing, screen,
lights, seat, tank casing, and mirror cases were all 3D printed, making for a
very ambitious project that took around a month to complete.
The M300 model can print in a space measuring 300 x
300 x 300 mm with a resolution between 140 and 300 microns to create the finest
details and even very smooth surfaces.
It also comes with its own software called Z-Suite
and is compatible with both Mac OS X and Windows 7 or above. All you need is
creativity, some engineering/mechanical experience and lots of printing
material.
The M300 can print using
Z-HIPS (matte finish for flawless, smooth surfaces, also comes in many colors),
Z-PETG (highly resistant to salts, acids, and alkalis; comes in black or gray),
or Z-GLASS.
With such technology in hands, you’ll never have to
order Chinese plastic fairings for your bike if you damage the originals.
However, be ready to spend between 4,000 to 5,000 dollars on such a printing
machine.
