3D Printing Offers Opportunity to Custom Bike Designers with Kris Henry of 44 Bikes
Kris Henry, founder of 44 Bikes, and Spencer Thompson, lead engineer for environmental technologies at EOS, discuss how additive manufacturing enables custom bicycle design and small-batch production. Henry explains how 3D printing allows for complex geometries like integrated suspension pivots and flat mount brake dropouts, reducing assembly time and improving maintainability compared to traditional welding. Thompson highlights the supply chain benefits of local production and the current hurdles small builders face in finding manufacturers willing to accept low-volume orders. The conversation emphasizes the need for universal standards and quality protocols in metal 3D printing to ensure reliability for safety-critical components.