N+ Open Bike Shoe Platform

Description

3D Printed Bike Shoe, what it do.

A cycling shoe is horrific to dispose of due to the embedded carbon fiber shank. Making a performance shoe that can be broken back down into its replacable components, servicing the worn or stinky parts, and put back together will keep shoes out of the landfill. It's an exploration of what might come with more widespread additive on-demand manufacturing.

This is a 3D-print-enabled shoe platform that explores the future of manufacturing and products. It lets makers tune and modify a shoe to their exact needs, and change it when it no longer suits them. It's a sustainable project because the worn out portions can be re-extruded into stock for their replacements. The removable textile uppers can be repaired and tailored to fit, and swapped out to suit the riding conditions.

The concept could easily be simplified and applied to regular footwear by replacing the carbon fiber core with a more pliable material.

Details

N+ IS EVERY SHOE YOU NEED

Cycling shoes cost a fortune, and serve a very specific fit and function. I wanted to make an alternative to consumer shoes that could be produced using a 3D printer, sewing machine and other readily available bits. The shoe was to be customizable - so that anyone could adjust it to fit their weird feet, or modify the treads to suit their next adventures terrain. The textile uppers of the shoe would have to be removable and come together without adhesives, to that they could be easily serviced and modified.

Because riders are often needing good shoes in different seasons, or conditions ranging from mud and snow, dirt and dust, or asphalt, the idea of an open shoe platform took shape. For now I've got a single simple upper and set of treads but I'm looking for collaborators who want to give it a shot and see where we can take it. Here's looking at YOU Adidas / Five.Ten FUTURECRAFT.

This shoe is in development. Now that the deadlines of the project are limitless I've been giving it lots of thought and little action. It will pick up again soon, so show some interest if you'd like to see more! Please gimme a follow on @marcsoriginal on instagram or twitter

THE HARD WAY

AT THIS MOMENT the parametric file is not easily shared, but anyone who wants to get plugged into the Fusion360 project and help to tidy it, please reach out.

See what I mean with the full file here

INSTAGRIZZ

#nplusplatform

@nplus.bike

As an open source platform I imagine this project growing into something like Rep Rap or OpenRC, with potential to monetize it along the way. If some tire companies wanted to start casting rubber treads, that's coo. If some composite companies want to start producing carbon cores, that's coo. If apparel and footwear companies want to sell some standalone uppers suited to stitch onto the N+ platform, that IS COOL - I think of it like a new, unique tire size made the way you want it.

Thanks for looking!

Files

Nplus_toeguard_v2.stl

Updated lower profile toe guard

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 825.86 kB - 11/27/2017 at 02:14

Download

Nplus_frame_heel_US10LP.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 18.01 MB - 11/07/2017 at 08:33

Download

Nplus_right_US10.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 45.28 MB - 11/07/2017 at 08:25

Download

Nplus_frame_toe_US10.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 4.13 MB - 11/07/2017 at 08:24

Download

Nplus_toe_US10.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 4.89 MB - 11/07/2017 at 08:24

Download

Components

3 × Insert 'nubs' Printed from PLA

3 × Heat-set inserts - M3 x 0.5mm, 3.8mm length McMaster Carr #94180A331

1 × Heel tread Printed from Cheetah TPU

1 × Mid-heel Printed from ASA

1 × SilverTip Epoxy I used the longer working time

Project Logs

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Presenting toeguard v2
marcs • 11/27/2017 at 02:24 • 0 comments

Sorry for the lack of progress on the Diodedora project, I've been speaking to some 3D printer companies and trying to optimize the overall design of e platform to be more accessible for v2.

I did manage to play a bit with the toe guard and came up with a slick little number that is a bit less SHOCKING and forward as the original. It got a few comments, and it did look whack. It was the last piece I made before presenting the project (printed the morning of) and got about that much attention.

I present Toeguard v2 - find it in the files!
Thanks for all the support and those who have contacted me! Stay tuned or hit up the Youtube for an update soon.
Thingiversion
marcs • 11/07/2017 at 09:09 • 0 comments

I've put some files up on Thingiverse - but the orientation is wrong! Will fix it soon.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2630660
Designing Textile Uppers (Diodedora) Livestream
marcs • 10/29/2017 at 22:01 • 1 comment

#DIODEDORA - an Ode to Diadora
I'm making a tribute shoe to a beat out pair of Diadoras I've got. I've put a few clips up on my YouTube from a livestream. Sorry for the missing chunk, but I didn't download it from the Instagram stream. I'll put something together when I model up the sole.
Subscribe on YouTube
HACKADAY PRIZE VIDEO
marcs • 10/22/2017 at 05:53 • 0 comments

WELCOME TO MY FIRST YOUTUBE
Please sub up and I'll try to do some more!
Inside / Out
marcs • 10/21/2017 at 10:07 • 0 comments

Here is the bottom of the assembled shoe.
The ASA frame inside gets covered by the insole.
Ready to bag core
marcs • 10/21/2017 at 10:01 • 0 comments
Presentation
marcs • 10/16/2017 at 07:46 • 0 comments
The kit as I imagine it could be sold as;
- Resin & Stirrer
- Carbon Fiber woven cloth
- Hardware
- Bar-ends with USB for print file storage
USER TESTING
marcs • 10/16/2017 at 07:34 • 0 comments

The proof is in the pudding. So was I able to achieve the intended outcomes with a DIY shoe? Well if you've read the report than you know the answer, but in a nice visual bit of punch here it is...

This shoes that the test shoe (N+ v1) was only a few degrees less stiff than a commercial cycling shoe (Pearl Izumi X-Alp) and a few degrees stiffer than a worn out old Salomon trail runner!

Not bad for a first go.
Presenting N+ Platform
marcs • 10/16/2017 at 07:09 • 0 comments

I had a chance to share my project alongside my peers and someone caught this video. I answer a few questions toward the end, so show some love for those who don't believe in the viability of open-source!

2017 Product Design Grad Presentation - Marc Wilkinson from Wilson School of Design at KPU on Vimeo.
Explaining Concept
marcs • 10/16/2017 at 07:07 • 0 comments

This is a series of posters I prepared to present to concept to peers. Please comment if anything needs clarification!

View all 12 project logs

Build Instructions

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Print parts for core

Print the mold and nub inserts. Heat-set the threaded brass inserts into the nubs

Lay up carbon fiber core.

Guide for making Core version 1

I did a few layers, then placed the nubs in. It helps to poke the allen key through the bottom of the mold and through the weave, then chase it with the bolt. tighten the nubs securely into place, continue applying layers then bag it.

If you have access to a vacuum pump, you can use whatever technique you're comfortable with. I tried a few solutions using 3D printed parts and a venturi valve, but in the end I used a generic brand foodsaver that was on sale at Walmart. Not the best infusion but weight was still good.

Customize Fusion model to foot shape using parameter table and sketch

Basic size adjustments respond quite well within a few sizes (will tighten up next version_ but major changes to the footprint can create issues downstream.

Discussions

rajah3083 wrote 10/30/2023 at 12:58

This is really fantastic. How many other cyclists are there here? I'm now taking a shoe-making course to help me brush up on my drafting and design, leatherworking, and other abilities. I truly appreciate this idea you have here. For more information, you can check here. https://golfgenz.com/

Are you sure? yes | no

duaans835 wrote 02/16/2023 at 11:01

Are you planning to start playing tennis professionally and need a new pair of tennis shoes for your training? If yes, then today’s article might be very helpful for you as it has a lot of options that you can consider. After trying a few pairs and searching the internet, I have jotted down a list of the best tennis shoes for astro turf. All these shoes are perfect for playing on synthetic grass and provide incredible grip.

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jimistyen wrote 01/29/2021 at 15:56

Very smart idea to make shoe platform. I'm working on the similar idea for funnel marketing plan app, you can see here more about it https://conversionskitchen.com/honeycomb-upsell-funnels-shopify-app-review-2021/

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Phoebe Hill wrote 03/01/2020 at 16:15

Wow, it is smart

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Dustin wrote 10/07/2018 at 20:52

This is pretty awesome. I'm curious as to how many cyclists are on here. Currently learning shoe making to help me get up to speed on a few skills, such as drafting and design, and leather working. I really like your concept here. Good work. I'll be checking out your videos and following along. Would like to join a project like this some day, but I'm too busy, and am very much an amateur. Cheers! Keep chugging along.

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N+ Open Bike Shoe Platform

Description

Details