3D printed carbon bike for $300?

Traditional layup construction requires molds. These are expensive and therefore a limited range of geometries can be produced. It is also a time consuming process and requires a skilled operative to lay each piece of fibre matting into the mold. There is also, like any material cutting exercise an element of waste. Layered 3D printing tends to result in intricate and mostly beautiful trellis like organic structures as an optimum design but is not a solution for laying down long strings of fibres. Custom builders use carbon tubes in a very similar way to creating a frame from any tubular material.

This technique, if I understand it right, allows a continuous carbon thread coated in a thermosetting matrix to essentially spool out to create the shape you want in true 3D, either the deposition head can move or the workpiece is moved and rotated under the head.

I reckon the true potential in this type of technology is maybe not so much in reducing a build to the very minimum of material to save weight, but in the ability to customise each final piece by changing the printing parameters. You could imagine changing basic geometry, frame stiffness, adjusting for rider weight, even customising to what drive train or accessory mounts are required. Because the process is completely machine controlled and the materials themselves are relatively inexpensive and there is no waste, then frames could be manufactured very cheaply indeed, on demand, maybe even at your local bike shop before your eyes. Mass production to custom specifications?

What is the actual cost price of a mid range CF frame anyways, a few hundred quid, there's a reason why there's a profit margin in bikes and still be in a price bracket that's affordable to the masses, that's because the frames are (relatively) peanuts to make en-mass.

I like the design and the colour above.

That is interesting. I'm sceptical, though until they can produce frames at that price point - talk is cheap (and valuable when you're looking for investment).

I'm puzzled about the frame they show as it's quite a different design and I'm wondering if they've had to change the design to accomodate their 3d printing technique. Other bikes enclose the steerer tube, whereas they seem to go to some effort to not enclose it. Maybe it's easier for them to drill a hole through the frame rather than have fancy 3d shapes, but that raises questions in my head.

I'm also wondering how they 3d-print carbon fibres - usually 3d-printing uses a homogeneous material.