T : 1-800-447-0515
T : 1-800-447-0515
We asked a simple question. What if we built a trike that proves what our additive team can really do. Then we got to work. What rolled out of the lab is a fully engineered platform that swaps a basic solid axle for a true open differential, adds real braking power, tightens the frame, and uses a library of printed parts to move fast without cutting corners. This is not a demo. It is a working machine that pulls its weight.
The heart of v3 is an open differential built for handling. It allows the inside and outside wheels to rotate at different speeds during a turn instead of losing traction and potentially control of the trike. We print the ring gear and the differential housing as one unit to nail pre assembly alignment and simplify the build. Power goes through hex shafts and custom bearing adapters for smooth transfer. A repurposed ratcheting clutch allows the trike to glide freely when the pedals are stationary. A pinion alignment system gives us fine control of drive gear engagement so the drive stays quiet and efficient. All of this is designed, printed, test fit, and then locked in place with purpose.
We 3D scan legacy bits, reverse engineer mating features, and print adapters to dial in the system before any metal cuts. That includes custom threading, spline matching, and native hex interfaces. The result is a clean pinion to ring handoff and a drive that feels planted.
Printed parts here are not toys. We pick material to fit the load and the use case.
We added dual rear disc brakes for real stopping power. The caliper brackets are printed in PA6 CF, which makes iteration easy if we upsize the rotors later. The upgrade is not just about more brake. It is about consistent, repeatable actuation under load.
The frame gets printed stabilizers, a bolt on rear crossmember, and a plate that reduces flex based on an FEA study. You experience that as less twist and a smoother drive. The seat moves from fixed to adjustable. The new two piece clamp sets tilt by about one and a quarter degrees per click across a window of roughly plus five to minus five. One bolt. Done.
Printed wave washers apply variable pressure to the side gears. They cost pennies and print in minutes. We developed simple jigs to align hex shafts, and a drill press guide that costs around three dollars and prints in about two hours. That jig holds 80 20 extrusions dead square so hole locations land right every time. The time saved there buys better work in other places.
We added a compact hitch at the rear stabilizer so the trike can move light cargo on a small cart. The hitch is a three piece assembly printed in PA6 CF with a universal joint so it tracks behind the frame without binding.
This project shows what our additive team can deliver for real machines, not just benchtop wonders.
If you need motion systems, driveline parts, test fixtures, or low volume production that stands up to daily use, the same process that built this trike is ready for your program. Let’s put it to work.