Tweewieler tells: 3D printing of 40.000 Van Raam parts

Visit Tweewieler at Van Raam

Tweewieler is an important Dutch magazine and digital platform for the bicycle sector. Jan-Willem Boezel, Technical Director at Van Raam, invited Tweewieler to the bicycle factory of Van Raam in Varsseveld to see how 3D printing is used in the production of special needs bicycles. During this visit, Jan-Willem and Sjoerd (Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Van Raam) were interviewed by Tweewieler. Tweewieler has written about this on their website (create an account to read the article in Dutch). Read more about the interview with Jan-Willem and Sjoerd below.

3D printing 40.000 bicycle parts a year

In 2020, 40.000 bicycle parts were printed at Van Raam with the 3D printer for the production of special needs bicycles. In 2021, this number was even 60.000. The 3D printing of bicycle parts is used for various purposes. Tweewieler writes: “With 3D printing, they produce parts on demand, keep stock in the form of digital files and produce tools that make their production process more efficient.”

Furthermore, the 3D printers at Van Raam are used for:

A frontrunner in the bicycle industry

Jan-Willem indicated that, in contrast to the car industry, 3D printing technology is still little used in the bicycle sector. Van Raam continuously monitors the developments of 3D printing technology, because they are changing rapidly. They look at how 3D printing can be used even more. Jan-Willem says: “3D printing provides opportunities for producing special needs bicycles.”

3D printing of a bicycle frame

Not only bicycle parts are being printed. Van Raam is also looking at the 3D printing of a bicycle frame. Jan-Willem says: “Together with the HAN (Dutch university) and dddrop 3D printers (manufacturer of 3D printers) we want to explore the boundaries of 3D printing.” The advantages that are seen here are:

For example, one of the largest 3D printed tricycles in the world was produced at Van Raam for a graduation project of a student. Read more about this in the article ‘Children’s tricycle Husky from 3D printer at Van Raam’.

Bicycle parts from the 3D metal printer

Meanwhile, Van Raam also owns a 3D metal printer and is investigating the possibilities of printing specialist bicycle parts. Sjoerd ter Horst says in the interview with Tweewieler that Van Raam does a lot of testing. It is a new technology, so additional knowledge can be gained of high quality. Because of this, many different departments within Van Raam are involved in the design and the engineers have a lot of freedom in designing parts.

The way of thinking and designing is different with metal printers than with 3D printers, it is important that the engineers apply this as well as possible to make the technology successful at new parts.

Source: Tweewieler