Stay up to date with everything happening in the wonderful world of AM through our LinkedIn community.
Hanglun Technology is the world's largest titanium alloy bicycle manufacturer, with an 80% share of the Chinese market alone. With an annual production capacity of around 20,000 frames, Hanglun supplies the highest quality titanium alloy frames to brands around the world. Now, in collaboration with Chinese industrial 3D printing company Farsoon, Hanglun offers 3D printed lightweight, fully customizable titanium bicycles.
Titanium alloys are known for being lightweight, strong, durable and corrosion-resistant, making them the go-to material in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices and consumer electronics. However, titanium is notoriously difficult to work with. Its unique structural properties demand precision at every step, especially welds, which must be executed to perfection. This level of craftsmanship requires exceptional skill, which increases production costs and, as a result, the price of the end product.
In 2023, Hanglun Technology has invested in a Farsoon FS350M 4 laser metal 3D printing system and set an ambitious goal of using this technology to produce over 50,000 titanium bicycle parts per year. These parts will be used in both mass production and custom models, with a focus on delivering titanium alloy parts with superior quality, enhanced strength, reduced weight and exceptional durability.
“3D printing is revolutionizing our industry and leading the way in innovation. It can be perfectly combined with traditional precision casting. Currently, we use precision casting for mass production and 3D printing for smaller custom projects. This combination allows us to create lighter, more complex and highly customized bike parts. What's more, it helps reduce the cost and environmental impact of small-batch production, shorten delivery times and make the whole process smoother and more efficient,” said Yongpeng Yang, deputy general manager of Hanglun Technology.
3D printing allows Hanglun to iterate faster, improve structural integration, and produce lighter parts (reducing the overall frame weight to just 1.4kg), improving the overall performance of the bike.
Farsoon's 3D printed titanium alloy parts also demonstrate superior strength and elongation compared to traditionally forged parts. Performance testing of titanium bicycle parts produced on the FS350M-4 system revealed superior mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 1035 MPa, yield strength of 998 MPa, and elongation at break of 13.5%. These enhancements significantly extend the lifespan of the parts.
