Abstract
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3-D printing, offers an alternative to traditional manufacturing processes. As 3-D printing has become more accessible, this has opened a new field for new materials to be used instead of traditional materials. With these advancements, there is a possibility to create new products that were previously only machined from raw materials. With 3-D printing, there is a possibility to expand the traditional bicycle component into a new sector with various materials and polymers available. More work is needed to understand how feasible these components would perform and behave. An introductory literature review on 3-D printing process and the material properties of Polylactic Acid (PLA) was conducted in this study, as well as simulations and testing of compression and 3-point bend tests on physical samples. The goal of this research is to contribute to the advancement of additive manufacturing by determining the potential of using PLA and materials alternatives to a typical steel or aluminum alloys in bicycle components.