I think a big community group build is a great idea! Even if it was just an art piece for display around different major cities. Something like the http://www.wethebuilders.com/ or the mini version my group did locally http://www.create1.biz/3djack/ which looks good with the “printpunk” patchwork look.
If there is a huge amount of interest and there are not enough parts to go around, I say break it off into regions who make their own.
This is so great to see that our bicycle inspired others. The bicycle we designed in Solidworks is a 1:1 scale of a real bicycle. It is designed from the ground up but it isn’t very 3D-print friendly. For example I’ve attached the front wheel, as you can see it has a lot of details. Probably not the ideal printing object (we only designed another wheel purely for the prototype, the rest of the prototype is scaled down to 30% of the original).
We can share our Solidworks design with all the parts. Before we do that we want to apply the things we learned from printing the awesome prototype @k5o52 on the Solidworks design. And of course I would like to hear if there is need for our Solidworks design.
I will keep an eye out for this thread. It would be so cool if this really works out. Already seeing it in front of me, with our prototype for scale measurements haha. Awesome. Voorwiel_spaken.STL (6.47 MB)
We could take a page from the 3D printed guitar makers and add a channel inside the parts that a carbon fiber rod can be inserted and secured with resin. It makes the guitar necks made of many segments far stronger.
Sounds great Charlotte. If I can be of any help, let me know through a PM. Apart from that, there are some other bicycle related projects coming soon from my own initiative as well! I’m curious what you guys have been up to at Cinter in terms of accesories.
Love the idea!
my e-mail is charlotte@cinterdesign.com so expect a message.