3D printing of bike parts

[BumbleBeeDave]

I was looking through the BBC Science & Environment page (one of my favorites) and found this story that just happens to include 3D printed helmets and what could easily be shoes.

It's a fascinating field and you've got to admit those helmets look pretty cool . . .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25878078

BBD

[Hank Scorpio]

Looks like they just copied an atmos.

[malbecman]

As someone who has done a little 3D printing, I think its really going to change a lot of fields, esp. as the ability to print other materials, eg, sintered metals expands.....pick a broken piece off your bike, scan it, use software to put it back together and then print yourself a new copy. Plus you can post the scan for your friends to use. :hello:

[Black Dog]

They are already printing 3D parts in titanium. http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/05/20/charge-bikes-3d-printed-titanium-bike-parts-production-begins/

[cmg]

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/charge-bikes-freezer-ti-3d-printed-cyclocross-bike3.jpg

there was some chainrub but this become a quick prototype and the next one had clearance. Image doing this to a knee joint.

[Louis]

I'm not going to cheer too much until I see yield strengths and fatigue properties that are within, say, 75% of normally produced metals.

[Peter B]

Fascinating technology but how do patents, copyrights and IP play out once you can scan and print any item?

[CPW]

Seems like this would be great for computer mounts, light mounts, etc. Maybe cleats?

[BumbleBeeDave]

Fascinating technology but how do patents, copyrights and IP play out once you can scan and print any item?

. . . IP now. Huge numbers of people have no firm concept of IP and copyright--and huge numbers more just don't care. It will become a hugely more important issue because large corporations will jump in wanting to protect their manufactured items. Poor quality counterfeits will become a huge problem for parts used in important, life-critical applications. There will be epic struggles about how to encourage innovation when any new, innovative item can be copied so easily. In other words, the ones who will really profit will be the lawyers. :)

BBD

[Gsinill]

Would be very handy for parts that are now hard to come by as discussed in this thread (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=133653) earlier. Maybe time to reconsider the idea...

[empty]

Fascinating technology but how do patents, copyrights and IP play out once you can scan and print any item?

Depends on what is covered by what patents. The scope of any patent is limited to its claims. Hard parts on a bike are as old as the hills from a functionality perspective and is there much aesthetics that is not linked to functionality?

Copyrights do not cover functional items.

The only other IP to talk about is trademark or trade secret. If you don't reproduce the mark when the part is sold and the part is not inherently distinctive (i.e., not a protected product configuration), then no trademark issue. Since the part copied is freely available there is no trade secret.

In sum, it is really a fact intensive inquiry that a few simple words cannot address with any depth.

Thanks,
Mike