Mommy where do bicycles come from?
09-19-06, 05:00 PM
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Mommy where do bicycles come from?
One of these days you are going to sit down and have this discussion with your kids. Save your breath and show them this amazing video from a bicycle factory in Japan instead!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYs_i...elated&search=
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYs_i...elated&search=
09-19-06, 06:05 PM
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That was a very interesting video. I liked the part that showed how they spoked the wheels! Thank you for sharing.
Now if only your competitor would put that much care into it when assembling a bike!
Now if only your competitor would put that much care into it when assembling a bike!
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Last edited by Siu Blue Wind; 09-19-06 at 08:01 PM.
09-19-06, 07:16 PM
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Catch 'John Ratzenburger's Made in America' on the Travel Channel. They tour the Trek factory.
09-19-06, 10:35 PM
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Interesting.
I noticed some of the joints on that frame were brazed, while others were welded (with a MIG
). That's weird. I thought bending the handlebars was a pretty impressive feat of automation, but building the wheels was amazing! I'd hate myself if I were the guy who puts tires on rims all day long.
Seeing the amount of work (even just designing the automation) makes me amazed that Walmart can sell a bicycles for $70, even as crappy as those are.
Last year I got to tour the facility in Portland that does the manufacturing for several high end bike companies, including Santa Cruz and Ellsworth. I got to a see a lot of these things first hand, but on a smaller scale (the video is definitely a mass market, low end bikes. Unbutted steel tubing, etc). The place I saw not only made the tubing (aluminum tubing was their main business, bike frames were a side endeavor), they butted it, cut it, welded it, aligned the frame, stress-relieved it, and painted/anodized it before shipping it off to the "manufacturer". Their welds are amazing. Take a moment to admire them next time you see an Ellsworth or Santa Cruz.
You should have seen the pile of quality control rejects. They looked perfect, but had minor alignment issues. I subtly tried to drop a hint that I'd be willing to make a few of them disappear, but my suggestion was not well received. They apparently really don't want substandard frames on the market hurting their reputation and increasing supply.
I noticed some of the joints on that frame were brazed, while others were welded (with a MIG
). That's weird. I thought bending the handlebars was a pretty impressive feat of automation, but building the wheels was amazing! I'd hate myself if I were the guy who puts tires on rims all day long.Seeing the amount of work (even just designing the automation) makes me amazed that Walmart can sell a bicycles for $70, even as crappy as those are.
Last year I got to tour the facility in Portland that does the manufacturing for several high end bike companies, including Santa Cruz and Ellsworth. I got to a see a lot of these things first hand, but on a smaller scale (the video is definitely a mass market, low end bikes. Unbutted steel tubing, etc). The place I saw not only made the tubing (aluminum tubing was their main business, bike frames were a side endeavor), they butted it, cut it, welded it, aligned the frame, stress-relieved it, and painted/anodized it before shipping it off to the "manufacturer". Their welds are amazing. Take a moment to admire them next time you see an Ellsworth or Santa Cruz.
You should have seen the pile of quality control rejects. They looked perfect, but had minor alignment issues. I subtly tried to drop a hint that I'd be willing to make a few of them disappear, but my suggestion was not well received. They apparently really don't want substandard frames on the market hurting their reputation and increasing supply.
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09-20-06, 10:51 AM
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That wheelbuilding machine is one of the most beautifull things I have ever seen.
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09-20-06, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
That wheelbuilding machine is one of the most beautifull things I have ever seen.
Would you love to have one like that at home?
09-20-06, 01:02 PM
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The wheel building was interesting for sure, but what amazed me more was what processes were automated versus those still done by hand.
09-20-06, 03:28 PM
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This subject line got me thinking of the bicycle birds and bees.
Well uh, Timmy, they uh, well. When a stem loves a fork tube very very much..... Or a seat tube loves a frame..... or a quick release loves an axle..... hmmmm bicycle parts don't sound very romantic, where DO bicyles come from, or would that be tricycles?
Well uh, Timmy, they uh, well. When a stem loves a fork tube very very much..... Or a seat tube loves a frame..... or a quick release loves an axle..... hmmmm bicycle parts don't sound very romantic, where DO bicyles come from, or would that be tricycles?
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09-20-06, 04:30 PM
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Here's a video of how Vuelta makes their wheels.
https://www.vueltausa.com/wheel-video1.htm
Good to know the "hand built" sticker on the side of the wheels on my bike isn't a load of crap
https://www.vueltausa.com/wheel-video1.htm
Good to know the "hand built" sticker on the side of the wheels on my bike isn't a load of crap
09-20-06, 06:33 PM
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Wow, I just watched the entire video, that wheel building machine is awesome. I always wondered how they machine built wheels.
09-21-06, 03:15 AM
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Originally Posted by shakeNbake
How about those truing machines! Would you love to have one like that at home?
Would you love to have one like that at home?I must admit, I cringed just a little when that brand new wheel came off the machine only to be unceremoniously dumped on a whole pile of other wheels.
and what about the poor guy who puts tires & tubes on them for a living, what a *****ty job! I'll bet he'd be able to fix a flat on the side of the road faster than any of us.
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09-21-06, 07:44 AM
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My kids already know that bikes don't come from kmart, but the video is cool.
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09-22-06, 09:00 PM
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machine built wheels, but they they still need a guy to put on the tube and tire?
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09-22-06, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Shemp
The wheel building was interesting for sure, but what amazed me more was what processes were automated versus those still done by hand.
09-22-06, 10:13 PM
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My job involves relatively simple machine automation, so I'm familiar with some of this, but I'm flat out amazed at the consistency of the spread on the spokes after they spin them.
I wouldn't want to think about trying to automate putting tires on rims. It can probably be done, but I bet any engineer would break couple hundred rims working the bugs out.
I wouldn't want to think about trying to automate putting tires on rims. It can probably be done, but I bet any engineer would break couple hundred rims working the bugs out.
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09-23-06, 10:55 AM
#17
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That was a really cool video...
But when I saw the title of this thread, I was hoping it would be funny.
But when I saw the title of this thread, I was hoping it would be funny.
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09-24-06, 12:01 AM
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It was funny. Did you see the bicycles they were making? The only thing missing was the machine that hangs the wicker basket on the handlebars and the "Hello Kitty" fake license plates. 
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09-24-06, 12:02 PM
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And this is what happens to those pretty new bikes after they are built...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfI2UxejcBg&NR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfI2UxejcBg&NR
09-25-06, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Taerom
And this is what happens to those pretty new bikes after they are built...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfI2UxejcBg&NR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfI2UxejcBg&NR
09-25-06, 02:25 AM
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that's cool. thanks for sharing.
