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3D printers have revolutionized the world of printing to the point of being able to create huge objects from parts created by this type of printers. This is exactly what Piotr Krzyczkowski, who has designed and manufactured his own 3D printer, has done. Falectra electric motorcycle from 3D printing.
With this innovative method, Krzyczkowski has reduced the costs involved in designing and producing such a motorcycle from scratch by 7 times, something that can certainly put all manufacturers producing on a large scale on alert.
Falectra is a brand of electric motorcycles created by the young Polish designer Piotr Krzyczkowski. He wanted to offer the inhabitants of his city a comfortable, economical and more environmentally friendly transport solution. To convince different investors, he designed a first prototype with the help of 3D printing, especially with fused deposition machines, from the also Polish brand Zortrax. A project that apparently attracted more than one since Piotr obtained all the necessary funds to embark on the adventure. The first models of his motorcycles will be on the roads in 2020.
A few months ago, Sculpteo published its annual study on the use of additive manufacturing by different professionals. The study revealed that 63% of the participants 3D print parts as a prototype of a part, thus verifying the designs and ideas they hope to turn into final parts. A solution that makes it possible to manufacture multiple iterations by simply correcting the 3D model instead of remaking the entire mold, for example. The young Polish designer is finally not so different: he has used several production methods, including 3D printing, to develop the working prototype of his Falectra electric motorcycle that he was able to present to his future investors.
Development of the Falectra motorcycle
The Falectra electric motorcycle was developed in two stages. The first was to finalize the idea, patent it and obtain certain funding; a process that took 2 years. The second step involved creating a working prototype on a scale to be able to show a physical model, a crucial point in the world of e-mobility. Piotr Krzyczkowski adds: “Just a virtual project is no longer enough for partners and investors. We had to show a fully functional prototype. However, just creating laminated panels that form the body of the vehicle would have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 PLN (€38,000 to €50,000), which was way over our budget. This is where we started thinking about 3D printing. Thanks to our cooperation with Zortrax, the parts needed to assemble the prototype have been created on their printers. The whole process cost almost seven times less and we were able to show the world a functional motorcycle”.
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