3D Printed Scooter: collaboration between Czech researchers & Renishaw

3D printing has been used to produce vehicles to offer cost-effective, eco-friendly and lightweight solutions to the automotive industry. Additively manufactured vehicles are not widely available yet as the technology is still developing and improving every year but many projects and designs have already been tested. It is only a question of time before commercially widespread 3D printed vehicles hit the market.

Renishaw, the UK-based 3D printer manufacturer and engineers from the Technical University of Ostrava in Czech Republic have collaborated in order to produce a 3D printed scooter. The scooter has been printed with a stainless steel bionic frame on a Renishaw AM 400 3D printer. On the other hand, the plastic platform was produced on an EOS P 396 3D printer.

The AM 400 Printer from Renishaw

The partnership seeks to commercialise a new way of production for the future, hence why they created this next-generation scooter. It weighs approximately 3.2 Kg as the frame is hollow to reduce weight. Marek Pagác, leader of the project and professor in the Department of Machining, Assembly and Engineering Metrology, VŠB-TUO said, “Our prototype is about a quarter of a lighter than if it was made by the traditional method. Besides saving the material we have made the parts lightweight and hollow. We also put the greatest emphasis on the attractive scooter design and its distinctive sporty look”.