His passion for RC model kits was one of the reasons that pushed Antonio Berera to found filament manufacturing company FiloAlfa. This passion, combined with expertise in working with such materials as PMMA, PST, and ABS under FiloAlfa’s mother company Ciceri de Mondel, has also played a part in the creation and launch of the first partially 3D printable RC motorcycle kit.
The 1:4 scale RC vehicle was presented by FiloAlfa at the Robot & Makers Milano Show last June 6th and 7th and it was developed in collaboration with RC motorcycle specialist AR Racing. It will look almost exactly like their current AR540 Base Nitro Cross kit, with the main difference being that the frame, exhausts, and the engine will be included only as 3D printable STL files.
“AR Racing wants to always improve its line up of models,” said AR Racing’s Alessandro Barlottini, “and 3D printing offers us all the features of detail and personalization that we constantly seek to offer our growing customer base.”
Starting this summer, the AXR-3D motorcycle kit will be offered in a 3D printable pack, which will also include the instruction manual, stickers, the rubber wheels, and other non-3D printed components in plastic (such as the wheels, pilot, shells) and in metal (front and rear forks, chain). The bike is able to run upright through a balancing mechanism in the rear wheel, which is also not 3D printed.
While the final cost of the 3D printable package will not be much different from the original, non-printed version, there is little doubt that DIY model kit fans will appreciate being able to actually play a part, not just in assembling the motorcycle, but also in actually manufacturing it. It is a great example of what can be achieved through 3D printing even at a real manufacturing level, where the best balance is achieved through a combination of 3D printed and traditionally manufactured parts.
