SHERLOCK bike anti-theft device prototype

Creating a prototype for a bicycle lock presented several challenges

• Materials and technologies: It was necessary to identify a material and production technology capable of ensuring the flexibility required for installation in the handlebar, as well as an attractive aesthetic.
• Functionality: The prototype had to be not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and able to meet user needs.
• Time to market: Being a product destined for a crowdfunding campaign, it was essential to create the prototype quickly to start marketing and fundraising activities.

Our Solution: Vacuum Casting and SLA 3D Printing

To overcome these challenges, a combination of technologies was adopted:

• SLA 3D Printing: A master model of the lock was created through SLA 3D printing (Stereolithography), using a photopolymer resin. This technology allowed for a highly detailed and precise model, ideal for creating the mold for vacuum casting.
• Vacuum Casting: The master model was used to create a silicone mold, into which a liquid polyurethane was injected. The vacuum casting process allowed for a flexible and durable prototype, with characteristics very similar to the final product.

The choice of flexible polyurethane proved essential to ensure the adaptability of the lock to the bicycle handlebar and to give it the necessary resistance to atmospheric agents, as well as to obtain thin-walled parts that would have been impossible with other rapid technologies.