Originally Posted by
RatMudd
Yeah, welding 2 halves would have to be involved, such as those wood bikes being bonded together at the middle. I've operated a 1.5 million dollar CNC so that definitely would be a downfall for an upstart on mass production of a milled bike frame. Also, the scraps would have to be recycled -- Not impossible, but would also put some cost into the equation. All in all, a milled metal bike frame is something I should Google about. Sounds like a viable futuristic option. Cost is a big issue though. We're already 3D machining tractor transmissions and motorcycle frames, why not a bike frame? $$$$$$. Metal excruding and sold in mass amounts is just way cheaper, but that also had an expensive upstart, I'd only assume. Too bad billionaires don't invest or donate to it. Donald Trump? He's been known to be a part of cycling.
Thing about either process to bring the cost down is there are custom processors who invest in the equipment and make the parts to order for you. They have the volume to defray the startup costs. Not every bike company would have to start out with the machinery. Kind of like Giant doing the CF molding for so many people now. Actually I had thought about welding together two tube halves. I don't see anything wrong with that, at least not
a priori.