Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Quirk Cycles embrace 3D printed stainless steel tech with new frame showcasing at Bespoked this weekend

London-based bespoke frame builder to show new frame with 3D printed dropouts and seat lug

Bespoke framebuilding company Quirk Cycles will use this weekend’s Bespoked UK Handbuilt show to launch some new bike models and signature paint schemes, as well as showcasing a very special build utilising 3D printed stainless steel dropouts and seat lug.

- Bespoked 2019 Preview: What to expect from the UK handbuilt bicycle show

Winner of the Brooks Choice award at the Bespoked Handmade Bicycle Show in 2016, Rob Quirk has an eye for detail and style and has created some standout bikes over the years, and bikes used in events as diverse as the Transcontinental Race and Red Hook Crit.

quirk cycles2.JPG

With Bespoked taking place this weekend Quirk will be showcasing a very special new frame that will take centre stage on the company’s stand. All we know is that 3D printing technology has been used to create beautifully smooth dropouts and a seat cluster unlike any we’ve seen before.

The finish is said to be pretty special too, created by Cole Coatings Workshop and using a special silver leaf process. We can’t wait to get a closer look at the weekend.

quirk cycles3.JPG

Along with that new frame will be the launch of three new bike models, the Durmitor, Mamtor and Kegety. The Kegety is an all-new gravel/adventure bike based on Rob’s experience of riding the Silk Road Mountain Bike Race last summer - you can read about it here. 

The Durmitor is a disc-equipped road bike aimed at long distance rides with an emphasis on comfort, but highly capable if something like the Transcontinental Race takes your fancy, where this bike was actually developed.

quirk_cycles_sanjeev_peacock_all_road_10

The Mamtor is an “all-road gravel” bike loosely based on the Durmitor road bike but with wider tyre clearance, up to 40mm wide tyres will fit, for adding gravel tracks into your road rides, to provide the increased versatility that a lot of cyclists are looking for today.

quirk_cycles_maxim_all_road__05

As well as new models will be a range of new signature paint schemes and standard geometries for all models.

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

Add new comment

4 comments

Avatar
janusz0 | 4 years ago
0 likes

David, is Quirky really 3-D printing with stainless steel, or are they printing a wax* model, which is used to make the mould for casting the stainless steel in? Please tell us more.
*Other evanescent modelling materials are available in this simpification of the "lost wax process". Alternatively, they could just 3-D print a mould.

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to janusz0 | 4 years ago
0 likes
janusz0 wrote:

David, is Quirky really 3-D printing with stainless steel, or are they printing a wax* model, which is used to make the mould for casting the stainless steel in? Please tell us more.
*Other evanescent modelling materials are available in this simpification of the "lost wax process". Alternatively, they could just 3-D print a mould.

I'll find out on Friday! That's just the info I have available. Other companies have utilised 3D printed steel and titanium before though

Avatar
QuirkCycles replied to janusz0 | 4 years ago
2 likes

janusz0 wrote:

David, is Quirky really 3-D printing with stainless steel, or are they printing a wax* model, which is used to make the mould for casting the stainless steel in? Please tell us more. *Other evanescent modelling materials are available in this simpification of the "lost wax process". Alternatively, they could just 3-D print a mould.

 

It's a fully 3D printed part, no lost wax processes here. It's a process called laser sintering.

Avatar
janusz0 replied to QuirkCycles | 4 years ago
0 likes
QuirkCycles wrote:

janusz0 wrote:

David, is Quirky really 3-D printing with stainless steel, or are they printing a wax* model, which is used to make the mould for casting the stainless steel in? Please tell us more. *Other evanescent modelling materials are available in this simpification of the "lost wax process". Alternatively, they could just 3-D print a mould.

 

It's a fully 3D printed part, no lost wax processes here. It's a process called laser sintering.

Direct from the horse's mouth! Thank you. I was aware of laser sintering, but didn't realise that it would offer the sort of strength required for frame lugs.

Latest Comments