{"id":32430,"date":"2021-07-08T12:19:36","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T12:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3.120.111.0\/?p=32430"},"modified":"2025-05-22T14:02:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T06:02:46","slug":"creating-a-bike-mount-for-apple-airtag-in-under-2-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-wp.xometry.hk\/en\/creating-a-bike-mount-for-apple-airtag-in-under-2-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a bike mount for Apple AirTag in under 2 weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sometimes it is important to create and release products quickly just as the market emerges. That is exactly what Nyckle Sijtsma did, launching a bike mount for Apple AirTag in just two weeks after Apple\u2019s Keynote where AirTag was presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We talked with Nyckle from New Things Lab about how he created his bike mount using Xometry\u2019s on-demand manufacturing services – and his passion for bringing new products to life.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"AirTag
AirTag Bike Mount<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Attaching an AirTag to a bike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

X: <\/strong>Nyckle, how did you come up with the idea to create a bike mount for the AirTag?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N: <\/strong>As a bike lover, when I watched the Apple Keynote I thought \u2013 stop, they mention that AirTag can be used to track your bike but they do not offer an accessory to do that… I immediately got really excited about this idea \u2013 AirTag seems to be a perfect solution for tracking your bike when it is lost or stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

X:<\/strong>  Right, great idea. You seem to be a genuine bike-lover!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N: <\/strong>Yes, I am \u2013 it\u2019s actually already our second product for bikes. The first one was LITTA, a set of solar-powered bike lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bike mount was ready with the 4th design iteration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

X: <\/strong>So, what did you start with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N<\/strong>: I immediately downloaded the CAD model for AirTag to check its measurements. Then I went into my neighbourhood and measured a few dozen bike saddle shafts to see if it was a good idea to mount it under the seat. I realised that there are lots of variations in the shaft diameters. Basically, the idea was that it should be not easily noticeable, adaptable to mount on different shafts, and durable to prevent it from breaking. At the same time it should be quite easy to use so that people can quickly mount it by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Idea
Idea sketches and initial prototypes<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the research process – and making idea sketches on how to make it adaptable to multiple seatposts – I quickly started up the CAD software, modeled the first design and printed it with my own FDM 3D printer in PETG to check how it sits on a shaft and identify its flaws. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

X:<\/strong> But for your final product you chose Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing in PA12, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N<\/strong>: Exactly, to be honest \u2013 I am a big fan of MJF. When I held MJF prints in my hand for the first time, I was really impressed with the quality. And they really nailed the cost aspect at scale. The quality is very similar to injection molded Nylon parts, while the lead-time for those is much longer, so in my case MJF is a perfect fit. I really like the precision at scale \u2013 with MJF you won\u2019t get any surprises \u2013 all parts will be precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Perfect
Perfect precision of MJF 3D prints ordered at Xometry<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About the material selection \u2013 I did consider possible alternatives, for example, it\u2019s quite popular to use rubber-based cases for this type of thing, but a bike mount is in a harsh environment, so I arrived at PA12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

X<\/strong>: How many design iterations did you make before you ordered the final one at Xometry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N<\/strong>: We are actually at Version 4 now, but I started ordering at V.3 with you guys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast delivery from Xometry and immediate product launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

X:<\/strong> How was your order experience with Xometry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N: <\/strong>It\u2019s not the first time that I ordered from Xometry and I am always happy with your services. You can get parts quite fast at reasonable costs. That\u2019s what I needed with this project. I think I got my parts within about a week and in the meantime I got everything else ready, like renders and marketing materials to prepare for the launch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the same day the first parts arrived, I checked them and they were perfect! Then I filmed the video to announce the product launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n