Podbike benefited from great flexibility in the start-up phase

Flexibility is crucial for businesses - especially in the start-up phase of a product. Just ask Podbike, a Norwegian manufacturer of electric velomobiles that we helped take from prototype to final product.

When Podbike contacted us, the necessary 3D STEP files of the prototype were prepared and without any major changes, the moulding of the prototypes was ready to begin. In the first round of prototyping, the individual parts were produced using Investment Casting. The big advantage of this process is the short production time of 2-3 weeks on average.

Prototypes developed with Investment Casting have virtually the same properties as the final product. This was particularly important for Podbike, as the prototype was to be used to test the safety of the vehicle.

After the initial tests were successfully completed, the prototypes were produced with a special prototyping tool.

Compared to investment casting, the initial costs are significantly higher and the delivery time is almost twice as long. The higher costs are due to the production of a moulding tool. However, once the initial phase of high-pressure die-casting is over, the production costs of the individual parts become incredibly low.

Podbike decided on a prototype tool made from unhardened steel. Compared to a hardened steel production tool, a mild steel prototype tool has a number of advantages that offer greater flexibility:

• Production costs are lower.
• Delivery time is shorter.
• Desired changes are easier and faster to implement as the tool is not made of hardened steel.

In addition, it should be mentioned that a prototype tool has a lifespan of approximately 3500-4000 parts and has exactly the same properties as the final parts that are mass-produced.