CNC machining technology is quickly becoming the focal point of many different production processes around the globe as a direct result of its many benefits over other methods. Additionally, the industries that manufacture motorcycles have gotten on board with this trend. The most innovative companies are now developing their engine components and wheels utilizing machining techniques originally developed for motorbike parts.
Because of CNC’s unique characteristics, it has gained widespread acceptance in a wide range of manufacturing industries around the globe. On the other hand, the effects of CNC machining on the motorcycle industry are the primary emphasis of this article. Let’s get straight into it.
Why Are Motorcycle Parts Machined Using CNC?
You may be wondering why we use custom CNC components for motorcycles. It is not hard to fathom the factors that led to this result. Now that we have your attention let us explain the rationale behind this modern development in the motorcycle manufacturing industry.
Replace Any Broken Bike Components
In the case of vehicles with just two wheels, when compared to cars with four wheels, the risk of having an accident is much higher for motorcycle riders. If a collision happens, several components of a motorbike may sustain damage. Suppose you want to maintain the functionality of your vehicle after the crash. In that case, you will need to purchase replacement components for the broken parts.
It is not always straightforward to discover a suitable alternative on the market, even if you are looking for something you at least like. The significance of machined parts for motorcycles becomes clear in this context. In addition, you have complete control over the appearance of the components, even down to the minute details.
Newer and More Fashionable Appearance
Occasionally, motorcyclists may decide to spruce up their ride by installing aftermarket components or modifying the bike’s makeover. Once again, computer numerical control (CNC) machining is the most practical method. Upgrades may be of any form and style you want.
CNC machined components were often thought to be too expensive. But not anymore; they’re easily accessible at reasonable rates. Moreover, you can expect to get your upgrade within a few days after placing an order, no matter what kind of improvement you’re pursuing.
Accuracy and Pinpoint Precision
Automated and requiring no human interaction, CNC machines drastically reduce errors. CNC machining also allows for producing almost flawless motorbike components.
In addition, makers of motorcycles may continue to create and tailor components with pinpoint accuracy indefinitely, assuming all businesses conform to the same standards and employ the same materials. Hence, they may create specialized motorbike components.
A Rapid Production Time
CNC machines can get the job done quickly without compromising the final output quality. Additionally, these machines could run for long periods, which allowed for the rapid machining of motorcycle components.
Errors can be found and fixed faster, leading to better quality control and quicker iteration. Overall, production facilities may swiftly move on to the following stage, which is post-processing.
CNC Machined Motorcycle Parts with a Customized Design
CNC machining may be used to make almost all of a motorcycle’s metal and plastic components. To continue, we’ll discuss several machined parts for motorcycles.
Motorcycle Wheels
In contrast to those on cars, wheels on motorcycles tend to be more apparent. As a result, the bike’s looks may be improved with the appropriate customization of these wheels. After all, attractiveness is more about what is immediately noticeable to the human eye.
When customizing the wheels, the disks are where the focus should be. The majority of them are made out of aluminum. Aluminum alloys are well-known for the outstanding machining capabilities that they possess. Milling procedures are used to obtain the desired level of wheel customization.
Another aspect of the motorcycle that may be personalized is the tires. After you’ve invested in a set of personalized wheel disks, it only makes sense to complement that investment with a set of tires having an outstanding design.
Engine Parts
When it comes to a vehicle (or a motorbike), the most important component is the engine. Several people allude to it as the “heart” of the automobile. On the other hand, the camshaft, the cylinder head, and the pistons tend to be intricate and require designs with a high degree of accuracy. CNC turning is the method of choice when it comes to creating the components that go into the engine of motorbikes.
Motorcycle Lights
Lighting is another complex aspect of customization. Use only high-quality items, nevertheless, since these lights are crucial for the safety of motorcyclists and other drivers or people on the road, especially at night. Motorcycle headlights have three main parts: the bulb, or light source, the lens, and the housing. In particular, we tailor the lens and the housing.
The lenses are often composed of aluminum alloys and are constructed of metal. Milling processes with a flawless finish would result in the lenses having a reflective quality that is similar to that of a mirror. The cover, on the other hand, is not composed of fragile materials; rather, it is constructed out of tough polymers that can be machined into more intricate patterns.
Custom Aesthetics Parts
The body coverings and the rider’s seat are two more aspects of a motorbike that may be customized. They often have elaborate geometries with a wealth of minute details. Motorcycle manufacturers often cast these components, but only for the production of bespoke parts. Nevertheless, CNC machining is the method of choice when producing unique pieces. Machining on five axes in today’s world is the means by which any design shape may be realized.
CNC machining makes it possible to map out all of the curves and art embellishments to satisfy the preferences of the client. The success of the process is contingent on the mill cutters’ capacity to calculate subtle and complicated angles accurately.
Choose Runsom for your customized motorcycle parts! We have the capability to fabricate complicated and stylish components making your motorcycle incomparable.
Parts of Various Materials for Custom Motorcycles
Most custom CNC motorcycle components are crafted from aluminum or steel alloys, each of which has its uses and benefits. However, among the many different materials utilized, motorcycle components are also made of brass and copper. Here are a few examples of metals often used in motorcycle component machining.
Aluminum
Aluminum is the primary material used by companies specializing in producing custom motorcycle components to create most of these parts. In the past, we would build our engines out of cast iron. On the other hand, aluminum is quickly becoming the material of choice, partly due to the fact that it is more lightweight. They are also useful in the development of wheel designs.
Zinc
Zinc refers to another metal that is very light in weight and has great machining qualities due to its high mechanical strength. This material may be formed into almost any shape and maintains its dimensions well. Even mission-critical components that need a high level of accuracy may benefit from their use. Thanks to this, they are ideal for use in the production of bike engine components.
Magnesium
Another metal that sees heavy usage in the production of CNC-customized components is magnesium. It is among the lightest metals that are now accessible and has excellent machinability features and strength commensurate with its low weight. One of the drawbacks of magnesium is that its dust may easily catch fire. Working with magnesium necessitates taking extreme caution for this reason.
Stainless Steel
Because of its superior machinability and weldability, stainless steel is an alloy that is particularly well-suited for CNC processes. In addition to this, they have great corrosion resistance and a high visual appeal. Their most common use in producing various motorcycle components is fasteners, such as screws and bolts. Their low susceptibility to oxidation and corrosion makes them ideal for this use.
Methods of Machining Motorcycle Parts
Industries employ various machining technologies to produce a wide variety of motorcycle components. It seems that CNC turning and milling are the foundational processes. However, alternative techniques exist, such as drilling.
Let’s investigate many of these machining techniques in depth.
CNC Turning
The CNC turning technique is considered a subtractive manufacturing method. In addition, it requires keeping bars of material, most often plastic or metal, in position and then twisting a cutting tool to eliminate sections of the material as the material is turned. This is done to get the desired form. Pistons, camshafts, and cylinder heads are just a few of the engine components that may be fabricated with this method, which is employed in manufacturing motorbikes. These mechanical parts are essential components that demand exactness and delicacy in their manufacture.
CNC Milling
Cutting tools, known as cutters, rotate at high speed during milling processes. They manipulate the material to conform to the form or shape that has been programmed into the machine. On the other hand, similar to turning, it is a subtractive technique that uses various tools to decrease the size of materials, most often metals or plastics. CNC milling is often used in the process of motorcycle wheel customization. Milling is the method that should be used if one is working with asymmetrical items since it ensures that curves are designed correctly and with the appropriate accuracy.
Other Machining Process
Besides CNC milling and turning, other machining processes are also available for manufacturing and building motorcycle parts. These methods are equally important and generate components with high accuracy and consistent quality. They are respectively: grinding, laser cutting, and drilling.
Surface Finishes for Motorcycle Components and Parts
The term “surface finish” refers to post-processes after the initial machining stage. The processes help enhance the overall quality of the machined motorcycle components. Below are the brief introduction, pros and cons of five surface treatment methods.
| Brief introduction | Pros | Cons | |
| Anodizing | A process involves coating a metal with another. | Improve aesthetics and durability; Enhanced mechanical and chemical resistance. | Metals must be conductive; Not suitable for surfaces with critical dimension control; The final finished product may be brittle. |
| Powder Coating | The surface of metals is coated by free-flowing and dry powders. | Higher mechanical resistance; Available for all kinds of metals; Improved durability with greater aesthetic appeal; Suitable for color experimentation – color combinations are allowed. | Not suitable for internal surfaces and parts with small compartments; Less control over accuracy. |
| Bead Blasting | Blasting of machined parts with tiny pieces of glass beads under high pressure. | Sealing up all cracks and pores, giving a consistent surface finish; Increased mechanical tolerance to wear, tear, stress, and conditions; Improved aesthetic appeal. | Not ideal for internal and small components of motorcycle parts; Less control over high precision. |
| Electroplating | A process can generate a thin non-corrosive film on the surface of metals. | Stronger mechanical and chemical resistance; More durable and aesthetically appealing; Allowing the production of pure substances. | It may be asymmetrical; Disposal of by-products may cause extra expenses. |
| Polishing | Smoothing and creating a shiny surface by adding or rubbing chemicals to the surface of an already machined product. | Enhanced products’ cleanability; Decreased surface adhesion. | Unsuitable for parts requiring high precision. |
Some items’ mechanical and chemical resistance may improve due to surface treatments. Surface finishes are applied for various reasons, the most important of which are increasing longevity and enhancing the aesthetics of the machined components.
Advantages of CNC Machined Motorcycle Parts
Main benefits and applications of CNC machined motorcycle parts are shown below:
- Perhaps, CNC machining is most ideal for designing intricate and complicated parts. At the same time, the machined motorcycle engine parts and internal components also require high precision and accuracy.
- Lightweight metals like magnesium and aluminum have good machinability, making it possible to the production of lightweight motorcycle parts.
- It is a fast production run. So the manufacture of parts is fast and practical to meet customer needs.
- Generally, CNC machining is a cost-effective and economical method to make motorcycle parts, letting you receive good results for money spent.
- In addition, CNC technology allows experimenting with different designs to improve the aesthetic appeal of your motorcycle parts.
- CNC is one of the fastest methods when it comes to prototyping. After all, we call this process rapid prototyping. It’s an exceptional means of researching new motorcycle designs.
Conclusion
CNC has become so vital to the motorcycle industry that custom machined motorcycle components have become the norm. As a result, the article sheds light on the benefits of CNC machining. It explains why it is so widely used in the motorcycle industry.
Everyone desires a very aesthetically pleasing item when the price is no object. That’s not a worry when you use CNC services, and you can also rest easy knowing your finished product will be of high quality.
Work with Runsom to Customize Your Machined Motorcycle Parts
Runsom is a specialist who offers CNC machining services for over ten years. You probably have an idea for the motorcycle parts you want. However, you cannot bring them into reality yourself. Therefore, it would be best if you were assisted by an experienced and knowledgeable manufacturer in the field. That’s actually what Runsom does.
What you need to do is just upload your CAD file online and then specify your order details. Then, you will get a quote for the manufacturing cost of motorcycle parts almost instantly. Once you receive your quotation, you can proceed to place your order.
We utilize high-quality materials to produce the parts you required. Once your parts are manufactured and go through our quality inspection, they are packaged for delivery.
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