Witness the Creation of Revolutionary Screw Bike with Unique 3D-Printed Wheels

Almost nothing off-the-shelf in this custom build, except for a few tools.

When you combine a mechanical engineer, creator, robotics expert, and versatile do-it-yourself enthusiast into one individual with their own YouTube channel, what do you get? While there could be various responses to this question, in the instance of James Bruton, that’s exactly what you get.

Throughout his tenure creating and sharing videos on YouTube, he has taken on numerous projects. From more recent endeavors such as a walking Star Wars droid to an ongoing collection of balancing robots, part of Bruton’s charm as a video creator lies in both his construction tutorials and his detailed explanations of the methods behind his work.

Just like any skilled artist, it is evident that he adapts and refines upcoming projects using the lessons learned from past ones. Despite his extensive knowledge, it appears that this strong foundation enables him to explore, experiment, and adapt if outcomes deviate from his original vision. Watching this process unfold is truly enjoyable.

Stitch buttons, as my grandmother would have likely advised.

World's First SCREW-BIKE

Actually, the exciting topic of discussion today is the incredible screw bike that Bruton has constructed. This bike features four mecanum wheels, typically used in industrial machines and robots. It provides omnidirectional movement. Click on this link for a detailed video explaining how these wheels function.

Two sets of omni-directional wheels are constructed and placed to operate in opposite directions, with belts connected to the four separate electric motors located at the level of the bike just above them on the frame. The rotational movement produced is what propels the bike while being ridden by Bruton (or anyone else).

Prior to witnessing the bike in motion, Bruton recorded the construction process. The majority of the wheel parts are created through 3D printing with a variety of materials and techniques. Plywood is utilized for the exterior wheel, whereas more durable materials are employed for the wedges and the smaller wheels that are attached at 45-degree angles on the larger wheel’s periphery.

There are various bearings to take into account for every single roller, in addition to the bigger bearings for each wheel. Furthermore, those small wedges are securely fixed in place with both glue and screws, minimizing the possibility (though not entirely eliminating it) of them coming loose and posing a danger to Bruton or any other riders.

Watching the entire process come together is quite intriguing, even though it initially feels a bit slippery on Bruton’s kitchen floor. However, once he slips on some shoes (thanks for that; riding a motorcycle without shoes makes some of us bikers nervous, lol) and rides his screw bike to a nearby parking lot for testing, we get a better sense of how it operates.

The programmed electronic control box he has constructed regulates the functioning of the large wheels and adjusts to complement each other. Drawing from the same principles employed in his previous projects with balancing robots, he has essentially created a self-balancing motorcycle that utilizes mecanum wheels to maneuver in any desired direction.

The manual controls are easy to understand as he demonstrates them, although they differ slightly from what experienced motorcycle riders may anticipate. Twist grips are found on both the left and right sides, accompanied by toggle switches that determine the direction in which the twist grips steer the bike. There are no foot controls, as Bruton believed it was more practical to have all functions accessible by hand in case of a bike tip-over (this would help prevent damage or unintentional activation of the controls).

Many individuals in the comments express optimism that Bruton will share another video showcasing his screw bike’s performance on a slalom or comparable course to highlight its maneuverability. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this is in the works, as it would be fantastic to witness. Although its speed remains unspecified, the sheer existence of the bike and his ability to effortlessly ride it are accomplishments worth celebrating.

If you are a fellow creative scientist, you have the opportunity to easily obtain and utilize Bruton’s CAD designs and code to create a similar project or customize it to meet your specific requirements. He has shared a repository on GitHub containing all his CAD files and code, which we will provide a link to in our sources. As with his previous endeavors, Bruton has made this project completely open-source.

Are you intrigued by the idea of riding a vehicle similar to this one? Perhaps you are considering constructing your own motorcycle like this one? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: James Bruton’s GitHub Repository for ScrewBike