Machineart Produces BMW-based Concept

Industrial design and product development firm Machineart Industrial Design has completed the R1200GSM, a design study of the iconic BMWR1200GS, using a process called “direct digital manufacturing” that drastically cut production time.

Machineart, Frenchtown, N.J., provides new product design and development services, focusing on concept development, visual brand identity, parts engineering and prototyping in powersports, computers & equipment, consumer products, medical products, juvenile products, housewares and sports equipment.

Machineart leadership says the primary goal was to develop a look that departs from BMW’s common lines while retaining a sense of muscularity. A secondary goal was to reduce the GS’s visual weight and give it a look of agility and forward movement. The final challenge was to build the prototype in a reasonable period of time utilizing digital manufacturing technology.

Pieter de Waal, vice president, BMW Motorrad USA, recently told Dealernews that most GS riders do not ride off-road but still gravitate to the model because of its versatility, comfortableupright riding position, and availability of touring and comfort enhancements.

To make the BMW 1200GS look more like a streetbike, Machineart designed its R1200GSM with more flowing lines, smooth surface transitions, and a part break-up that reduce its visual bulk.

According to Machineart: “A look of strength is achieved by shaping the surfaces of the mid section like the torso of a body builder – taught convex and concave shapes with crisp definition. The body tapers from the broad mid-section to the tail like a broad chest to a narrow waist and tapering legs.

“The thick mid-section is satin metallic black to reduce mass and is divided by a red ‘wing’ that wraps around the fuel tank and directs one’s focus to a smaller area within the larger shape. At a profile view, a line begins at the nose, flows under the wing and curves back up through the rear side panel. The nose serves only as an air intake for the oil cooler, eschewing its traditional role as a vestigial fender. The sweep elongates the shape, reduces apparent height, and evokes a look of agility and forward movement.”

The direct digital manufacturing process enabled Machineart to make the 1200GSM’s ABS body parts in less than a month, saving many months of time over traditional prototyping methods.

GSM body parts were modeled in Alias Studio Tools and SolidWorks 3D CAD software, and produced in ABS-M30 plastic directly from 3D CAD data using two Fortus 3D Production Systems. Fortus systems use FDM, the leading technology in 3D printing and 3D production, to eliminate the need to make tooling to mold plastic parts and allow easy revision and customization from one set of parts to the next.

A total of 16 parts were made in the large Fortus 400mc and Fortus 900mc machines, including two parts that served as the female halves of molds used to cast polyurethane foam seat cushions — an example of direct digital manufacturing of manufacturing tools. The lower cowl near the exhaust pipes was produced from PPSF (polyphenylsulfone) a heat-resistant material option for the FDM process.

Machineart operates MachineartMoto, an online store for BMW motorcycle aftermarket products. The 1200GSM was built to promote the design focus of the MachineartMoto brand of aftermarket parts for current production BMW R1200 series bikes and to showcase its X-Head cylinder guards, Slipscreen windscreen, and MudSling fenders.

Tags: 1200GS, BMW, Concept, design, guido, Manufacturing, Motorcycle, powersprots, prototype