Hello and good day to you from episode 12 of our podcast series Project Breakaway. A metaphorical and literal time in the day when we here at Predator cycling take some time away from working in the back of the shop to come and share with our listeners what we're doing, how we're doing it, what it takes to do it, our ideas, our innovative success stories and even our missteps and failures. If you find yourself with an interest in bicycles, composite manufacturing, out of the box design or even curiosities beyond. I encourage you to stick with us, settle in and learn a little. I'm Courtney B, co-owner and project manager of Predator cycling. I'm here with my partner Arm Goan, the other co-owner, CEO, lead designer and engineer and product specialist of Predator cycling. How's it going, Arm? It is going absolutely wonderful. Yes. Are you happy to be back after Snowpocalypse of the southern part of the United States last week? I I am. I we're thawed. And life is back to some sort of normal. Whatever this new normal is. We were literally unable to come to our shop for like four days. And then we got in on the fifth day and it was like what's the point? Yeah, it was pretty bad. Everything was just ice and just slush and it was not good. Right, Tennessee didn't get it as bad as Texas obviously, but it was. Definitely disruptive. It was very disruptive in the fact that our city has no snow plows. Well, it's the south, I guess. I guess. Um, so yeah, that was fun. Anyway. So we're back and we've regrouped yesterday was Monday. We just had to remember what we were doing exactly. It was life. Yeah, and get projects back rolling and machines fired back up. Everything warmed back up, calibrated, so. Mhm. So now we're back here with another episode. Yep. And we have been focusing a lot on our 3D printed products for a couple of weeks now. And we are finally ready to share one of them in more detail. Yep. So later this week on Friday, we've decided. We will begin selling and the website page for this product will be live. Um, for our new water bottle cage. It is called the Genius water bottle cage. Mhm. So there are quite a few things to mention about this product. Um, I'm going to highlight a few of them and then we'll revisit and take our deep dive into a discussion. Okay, sounds good. So basically, uh, an overview. The name of the cage is the Genius cage. And so we're going to talk about, um, AI, uh, artificial intelligence. I'm going to do that each time. Okay. Okay. Uh, AI driven generative design. Artificial intelligence. It is uh, 3D printed. It's not carbon fiber. It's made from a uh, a. a hard, rugged 3D print material. It is. Um, its weight is around 20 grams. Don't keep me to that because we have did we weigh it after we put the paint finish on it? Yeah, we're still making some very slight tweaks to the process, but yeah. Around 20ish grams. Um, it was designed with topology optimization. Um, in uh, Ansis. Yep. And uh, it was designed for uh, elasticity. Yep. And so that it had a secure grip on the water bottle. Um, and then, let's see. Uh, we also want it's a ceramic coated finish, it's non-corrosive. So we're going to hit on that. And then it's um, printed here. Yep. In our shop in the United States of America. Yeah. So it's not a. And just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Um, yeah. So those are the highlight points. So let's go back and you can go into more detail. Yeah, for sure. So what are we starting? We're starting with the name, the genius water bottle cage. This, yeah, well, I mean. The name was done by the genius herself, Courtney. Oh, wordsmith. Yes, you are. You named most of our products of recent years. Um, but uh, yeah, the genius is we named it because it's using um. It's smart. It's smart, it's a very smart cage. Um, it's using um, AI. Artificial intelligence. So it is uh, it is a genius. Um, and it's the first product that we have. Like we've talked a lot about in the past that we use simulation for a lot of things and how we we use AI and topology optimizers and CFD and all these great things. Um, we've never had a product that was actually mostly designed by the computer. So this is a product that. Let's let's go back a few steps for anyone who's like, I don't know what they're talking about. Okay. You have a product in mind. Yes. You know, it's a water bottle cage. You know that both there are two bolts that go through it. You know that it twists on the bike when you pull out the water bottle. And you know what other forces and loads? Essentially. Yeah. You have an idea. Yeah. So you put those numbers and parameters into the computer. Uh-huh. And then the computer will spit out multiple versions of designs that fit those requirements. In the most basic sense. Yes, that's that's the concept. Um, where things get a little more complicated is. We actually, so in order a water bottle cage is interesting because it's simple. Yet really complicated. Because you think about the basic loads on a on a water bottle cage. You go like, oh, that's pretty simple. And then you start actually thinking about how it works and how it's used on a bicycle and the things that could happen to it. And it becomes more complicated. So there was a lot of simulation that was done in order. to figure out the simulation and the parameters of that simulation. Um, but the point being is that it was it was exactly what Courtney said. It's it's basic parameters. We're put in. Um, the basic modeling structure was designed that we thought would be um, pretty optimal. Um, and then we let the computer really just take it from there. and optimize that. And then there has to be a certain amount of, you know, we're going back in. and redesigning things. Because, well, you know, in in in production printing, we couldn't actually make that. Or there would be too much wasted material. Um, so there's a lot of. Or just printing it with the supports. And right. Printing with supports and post processing work. So basically, you get what it spits out. You choose a design that fits. Most of your requirements. And then you massage it to make it. I mean, this specific product looks way more generative. than how we use it with our bike designs. Yep. But it you know, we massage it, make it look predatory. Yeah, for sure. And we also. There's there's a lot of like considerations into like actual end use function. that the simulation doesn't really take into account. So there's a lot of little details. But the idea is that the structure and the design and a lot of the angles and shapes that you see are designed using AI. And this was a really interesting. It's very organic is how they always describe the generative design. It's cool. It's super cool. And it's it's exciting because we've been playing with this. This technology for several years now. And it's the first time that we're actually able to leverage it into a part. When you look at it and you say, oh, yeah. That's totally a generatively designed part. Like that's that looks it. And I think it's a step back maybe from how we usually present. Our, you know, predators always looks fierce, claw, strong, fast. And this is way more um, organic. Yep. And and smart. Is why we named it the genius cage. Because the computers are alive. And well. And they're building water. And they're happy. And they're building water. Water cages. So, let's talk about um, 3D print. And this is not a carbon fiber product. Yeah, so I mean. So that it kind of. Yes. This is a 3D printed product. This is um, we we in the I mean, years and years and years ago. We had some non composite parts that we sold. But we haven't done that in a very long time. Um, so this is new for us. Um, we've been using like we've talked about in previous podcasts. that we use 3D print a lot. Or our manufacturing processes here in like jigs and fixtures. and prototypes and things like that. And this is our first consumer product. that is direct printed. So we're really excited for that. And it really opens up the possibilities for us for a couple products. A couple things. One, we can actually start introducing our our our price point. Um, it becomes more interesting. So we can be a little more competitive on our pricing. Um, and we're actually, I mean, we're. This cage is really cool. because we actually really leveraged um what printers can actually do, material sciences and different types of materials we can use. and incorporating that with our our our topology optimizations, our supercomputers that we have here locally. Um and being able to leverage that to actually make a part that we can actually print, print effectively in a reasonable amount of time. And also um meet a price point. Right. So that it's super cool. Um and we can scale. Like it's completely scalable product. So it it it really works well like that. So let's talk about the um use for of the Ansys software and the topology optimization that you used. Because you explain it the bottle cage is having elasticity. And a secure grip. Um so explain like how is that different from other water bottle cages? So there's a there's the way the best way to explain this cage is it's not just flexing from a a set point. There's not a point that just bends. And the flex of that cage allows you to squeeze the bottle. This is actually the way it's the way the the bottle cage is actually gripping the bottle. It's basically pivoting from like six different locations. And actually gripping the bottle. So that's one of the things like we say and it has a grip on the bottle. Um and the elasticity of the material allows it to flex. So it really conforms to the bottle and just has this really uniformed grip on the bottle. Mhm. And that with the balancing of the design process and the print and the materials, we can actually get this really cool balance of a cage that's um very light, very tough in the sense of its its durability and like repetitive use and then also its grip. So um this really cool balancing act this product is. And that's also I think, you know, comes back to its name. Um It's smart. It's super smart. It's genius. It is and it's this new methodology that we have of designing parts. Um How would you compare it to I know carbon fiber water bottle cages. Yeah, so I mean that exist. We have them. Right. Yeah, we have them. They're cool. Yeah, I have them on one of my bikes. I got a bunch of cool carbon cages. Um they're super cool. There's nothing. There's So we looked years ago we looked at making a carbon fiber water bottle cage. And it was like, oh, we should totally do this. This would be awesome. And then you start looking at the price point, you start looking at the material properties of composites. And does it make sense to make a bottle cage? And it just it's not a perfect fit. It's one thing to make something cool. And it's one thing to make something functional that everyone can use. That's also cool because it was designed by a computer. Absolutely. And it's comes back to this idea of like, you know, I always have this question actually, so like my great uncle who's a product designer. designer and and whatnot, he used to always tell me that there's a there's a there's a point of function that matters. Mhm. Like what's the point? Mhm. And that kind of always rings in my bell because I in my head because I always think about it when I think about products. The bells are always ringing in your head. The bells are always just a constant bell. But the the point of this idea of of designing something with a purpose. Mhm. Um and sometimes composites is just used or carbon fiber is just used because it's cool. And on this um product, we really went down the idea of doing it intelligently and for a purpose. So it's designed where we're it's not the lightest cage in the world. It's a, you know, we're floating right at 20 grams, it's floating between 18 and 21 grams. It should be 20 grams in production is our is our target. Um but it's it's it's very light, it has an incredibly good grip, it's incredibly durable and it can take impact and and um um and hold on to the bottle in rough road conditions. So it's that balancing and it's at an economical price point. So it kind of that fine line between it all. Right. Right. Um and we that's something that we could not do with composites. Right. Um and I mean, I'm not going to kid. Like we actually designed a couple of cages that are quite a bit lighter than this one. Um but we decided not to produce it because we hadn't tested out its its uh long-term durability yet. Yeah. So that may be something that's coming. Yeah. There's also just a a a visual aspect of looking at something and even though it may be functional and work. It just was like, wow, that looks like I can snap it in half. Yeah. Well, also it comes into that thing we've talked about before. Is this just there's a thing of too light. I mean, there's a thing of taking off too much material. And especially in simulation, when you're optimizing to that level of of optimization. You're only the computer's only taking into account the forces and loads that you're giving it. So there's always that, you know, freak accident of like, you know, something coming off the road and hitting the side of the bottle. Well, the simulation didn't account for that. So, you know, there's a lot of other things that could happen. Right. So you have to think about that. And once the page is live, we have added a GIF. GIF. GIF. GIF. GIF. GIF. I don't know, this is your department. A GIF. I'm going to go with GIF. We added a GIF that we created that really shows how the computer starts creating the cage based on the parameters that you put in. Yeah. So it's it's pretty cool to maybe if you're not familiar with exactly what we're talking about. We'll have a good visualization on the website, so check that out on Friday. Um, let's talk about the ceramic coating finish. It's non-corrosive and it's going to be offered in currently black and red. Yeah. So, um. One of the things that's really difficult about 3D print is that it doesn't always survive really good in UV. It sometimes has um um issues with um with uh uh road debris or like like sugar that's found in in in energy drinks and stuff. No. No, no. Um, it's a lot of those parts, it can actually mess up the the finishing of the part. Which can actually degrade the part over time. So one of the things that's really important for us to be able to bring this product to market was to get to find and build out our own coding system that would work for this. So we've gone with a a ceramic coding system. That's incredibly thin. And is very, um, it's very flexible so that we can actually not crack or or uh break apart over years and, you know, thousands of bottles going in and out of the cage. Um, and also has a really good, um, um, uh lubrication aspect. So it actually will helps guide the bottle cage in and out, the bottle in and out of the cage. Um, and it is 100% UV stable. It is, it's a really cool system. So we're excited. And there's the possibility of more colors down the road, maybe. Yeah, for sure. If people. If people are interested. If you, yeah. If someone wants to buy 100, I'll offer you a free color. Uh-huh. Um, and then lastly, they are printed here in house in the United States. By you. Yes, they are printed by us. Maybe me in the future. Yeah, well. Right now I'm testing it. I'm just getting the first productions. Right. So this is a product that is fully designed and manufactured here in the United States. We're not waiting on shipments from overseas and. Right. Just. There's the problem. You always just contact us. Yeah, and the other thing too is it really makes for. I mean, I think in the modern day, we've kind of lost that whole aspect of, you know, designing and manufacturing and building stuff by the the actual company that sells it. But one of the big benefits is like that that loop is so short from like the it's designed. And then it's manufactured 30 feet away from where it's designed. Mm-hmm. Um, so like when something happens. Or being able to like understand how it's being manufactured and processed and finished and designing that part properly. Um, is so important. Um, and especially in something like this. I think it really. Anyways, I think it's super cool. And it's, uh, um. It allows us to make the product better. Mm-hmm. Because you know. Everything about everything. Uh, at least the process of how the cage is made. Yes. Yes, the genius behind the genius. Water bottle cage. Yes. I'm looking right at her. Uh, okay, um, well that's all I wanted to touch on on the cages. Is there anything else you want to mention? Oh, a price point. Price point, yeah, so. Well. Okay, well, it's going to be $35. It is. The cage is going to be $35. Plus shipping. Plus shipping. Um, and then they're going to be, uh, we're going to release it on the site on Friday. Um, so the first ones will ship out next week. Um, and just there there may be slight delays on shipping depending on how many we sell. Um, we have. depending on the previous week's storm. Yeah, right. I just got my Valentine's Day flowers. You did. No promises. Uh, yeah, and um, just yeah, there may be slight delays on the first couple weeks of shipments. Mhm. Just depending on volume so we can get a handle on printing and manufacturing. Mhm. So, just heads up on that. Great. So I think that covered it. I think it did. 35. 35. Red, black. On the website on Friday. The genius water bottle cage. Boom. Named after myself. Okay, well, in recent news, we've been working really hard to update our website. We now have scheduling features on both um the web-based one-on-one. Okay, let me let me reward that. We have scheduling features. We have one scheduling feature that is web-based so that you can schedule a one-on-one with arm. For questions about building your new road frame. Or if you just want to see his face and ask him some questions. I guess we could do that. I could make time for that. Um, we are also starting to offer more bike fitting services. Yep. Again. Um, arm is a certified bike fitter from years and years and years ago. Yeah. Um, we kind of stepped away from it. Just based on your time and. Yeah. How long it takes. Um, but we are going to start um advertising those services more here locally in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Mhm. Um, and we've always accepted inquiries for local fits, um, but now we're just going to make it more visible. On our website. So now you can log on and I believe probably also at the end of the week. Yeah. We will have a uh live bike fitting page where you can schedule a bike fit. Mhm. Don't even have to call. Nope. You can just go online and. Click the button. Book an appointment. Show up, wear your mask. Yes. Wear your shoes. Wear your kit, bring your bike. I don't know. Yeah. I've obviously never been bike fitted. Uh, well, you have actually. You have been fitted. I have. You have. You have. In my in my flip-flops. In your in your. Or my workers. My knee highs. All of them. You've been fitted. Um. Okay, and that's the recent news. And I think we're going to wrap it up. Yeah. So, we thank you for choosing to take some time with us. We look forward to future breakaways. Look for us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and in person here in Tennessee. We ask our listeners to please share, like, and subscribe. We're available on all major streaming platforms. Thanks for listening, have a good one and find some time to break away.
EpisodeDec 2, 2022 · 20:43
← Podcast
Project Breakaway with Predator Cycling
40: UCI Changes & Manufacturing Mods, EP. 040
Join Courtney B. and Arm Goan of Predator Cycling on Project Breakaway as they unveil their groundbreaking new product. They introduce the "Genius water bottle cage," an innovative design leveraging AI-driven generative design and advanced 3D printing techniques. This lightweight, 20-gram cage, meticulously crafted in their Tennessee shop, represents their first consumer product largely designed by artificial intelligence.
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