Hey everyone,
While I’m still waiting for the handlebar parts like spacers, bolts, and so on, I decided to use the weekend to figure out how to shim the frame for a front derailleur.
At first I tried measuring everything and building it in CAD, but the shapes are way too complex for that.
Then I remembered photogrammetry, the method of turning photos into 3D models. I looked into it, tested a few tools, and after a few hours I actually managed to get a pretty decent 3D scan of the bottom bracket and seat tube area.
Because of the reflective carbon surface, I lightly dusted the frame with flour to improve the scan quality. That worked surprisingly well. see below.
The tricky part was scaling the mesh correctly, but I got it accurate to about 0.1 mm across the bottom bracket area. That should be more than enough. Worst case, the 3D print will have some play or I’ll just sand it slightly to get a perfect fit.
Used software was, Photocatch, Meshlab, Freecad, and recorded the video for the scan on my phone, was way easier and quicker than using pictures.
Let me know what you think.
I’m also thinking about getting the Wheeltop GEX groupset as a second setup. I would move the Ultegra / GRX Di2 from my Cube Cross Race and pass that frame on to someone in the family.
The GR:ONE will stay as the 2x experiment and the Cube could run 1x, which should be totally fine for most rides.
The Wheeltop set is already in my AliExpress cart. I’m waiting for some new coupon codes, but at the moment it would cost around 430 euros. I already have enough cranks at home, so I would probably get a XD or XDS freehub with a 10–46T cassette in the back and maybe reuse the Ultegra crank with a 46T chainring, or even go up to 50T.
I’ll share more once the parts arrive.
