AI Generated Bike Frame

I have always wanted to publish an instructible and get more comfortable with generative design, so the "Made with AI" contest was the perfect reason to start! As a biker myself, I have always wondered whether or not it would be possible to create a structurally sound bike frame using Generative Design, as this was the perfect opportunity to find out.

Supplies

• Fusion 360 (Education License) with Generative Design
• Blender
• Bike model; You can get one from Sketchfab, I used Klaas Nienhuis's Bicycle model (https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/bicycle-4saPxqRTOLETE9TlL5iZkKd9zI1)

Step 1: Importing and Object Pruning

First grab your bike model from sketchfab and import it into blender. You may need to scale it down to a manageable size before starting. Select all and alt p -> clear and keep transformation, then in the upper right select the filter button and deselect all except for empties, deleting these and then resetting the filter to everything. After that, start deleting meshes that comprise the main frame of the bike, taking care not to delete meshes where you only want to delete part of it.

Step 2: Vertex Pruning

To delete part of meshes, enter edit mode (while selecting the object you want to edit) with tab and use "c" and wireframe view (top right of 3d view, looks like a circle with some lines on it) to select vertices that you don't need/want in the final bike or parts you want to generatively design instead. You should end up with something similar to the 2nd picture, with only the wheels, gears, handlebars, suspension, and seat remaining. Combine all meshes into one to easily move to Fusion 360.

Step 3: Importing Into Fusion and Model Blocking

Export the combined mesh as an obj and import it into fusion. Then, using the model as a template, roughly model the parts that you want to affect the final generative design (model the wheels, and put blocks or cylinders for the seat connecter, wheel axles, and gear axle). Then add some more rough cylinders to cap off the axles to prevent the generative design from going around the end of them.

Step 4: Generative Design

Using Fusions automated modeling tool, highlight the wheels and the axle caps for bodies to avoid and an inward-facing face on the blocks/cylinders (handlebar and seat) and the axels for faces to connect. Generate the design and choose an option that you like! Export the generated model as an object.

Step 5: Blender

Finally, import the generated design into Blender and add it to the existing bike model (the one with the removed frame). Then, find a cool background/scene on Blenderkit and render it out!

What are the next steps?

• Next maybe try a motorcycle frame!
• Maybe even a car!
• Maybe animate the bike going down a dirt track!

Either way, thank you for following my first Instructible and I hope you had as much fun as I did!