Ford Testing 3D Printed Parts

[mjhousto]

Interesting article by CNBC: Ford is 3-D printing car parts which could mean more customized vehicles

I wonder how far out this might be and what what it could mean for future customization of our Mustangs.

Ford is testing large-scale 3-D printing technology for car parts, which could allow drivers to customize cars for a lower price, the company said on Monday.

The U.S. automaker says 3-D printing could be a "breakthrough for vehicle manufacturing", touting benefits including efficiency, lower costs, and the ability to test prototype parts and components for low-volume models like racecars.

Making a small batch of car parts at the moment is expensive and inefficient. With 3-D printing, Ford could test out new designs, and even personalize parts like spoilers for individual customers, which at the moment would be costly.

Ford also said that the 3-D printed plastic parts would be lighter than current materials leading to greater fuel efficiency. For its tests, Ford is using the Stratasys Infinite Build 3-D printer, becoming the first automaker to pilot the technology. Stratasys is a Minnesota-based 3-D printing firm.

The technology is seen as a big future business with spending on the hardware along with associated software, materials and services set to reach $28.9 billion in 2020, compared with around 13.2 billion last year, according to research from IDC.

With 3-D printing, design specifications are sent from a computer to the printer. It then prints one layer of material at a time eventually creating a 3-D object. A robotic arm can replace the raw material when needed, allowing for the machine to operate unattended for several days, Ford said.

Ford is not the only automaker testing out this technology, however. Last year, Germany's Daimler announced plans to use 3-D printing to produce spare parts, while French firm Peugeot signed a deal with Divergent 3D to develop metal printing processes for the production of its vehicles.

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[DarkestHour]

They've been saying for years that 3D printing would make things cheaper but everything seems just as expensive or more than before. The consumer isn't going to benefit.

 

[Freedom]

ALL YEAHHH. ALL AMERICAN PLASTIC MUSTANG

 

[EcoVert]

They've been saying for years that 3D printing would make things cheaper but everything seems just as expensive or more than before. The consumer isn't going to benefit.

Cheaper for the company but not for the consumer more profits in the corporate pockets.

 

[Dannyho]

in my experience in engineering with 3d printed parts, they work very well for prototype parts. but if you're going to try and make large amounts of parts reliably it's going to be very hard for 3d printing to compete with injection molding. one off parts- great. making 1000 in a day, forgetaboutit. the technology would have to change significantly for it to work. There are some methods out there that look promising, but very incomplete, and I'm sure the patent holders are very stingy about licensing. 3d printing only went wild recently because all the patents expired and the open source guys were able to capitalize. If we're going to see mass 3d printed parts, I don't think its going to happen within the near future. a decade or 2 maybe.

 

[Fenix]

3D printing isn't just for polymers anymore... Check out this bad boy

Yes these are very expensive, $1.5 million starting. It 3D prints the equivalent of a casting, then machines the final dimensions in one set up.

[ame="[MEDIA=youtube]g8sT8ESfjrg[/MEDIA]"]

 

[Freedom]

3D printing isn't just for polymers anymore... Check out this bad boy

Yes these are very expensive, $1.5 million starting. It 3D prints the equivalent of a casting, then machines the final dimensions in one set up.

That's pretty cool. Seems a bit slow compared to casting (i know nothing tho) and hows the bond strength since its layered instead of basically 1 piece?

 

[Fenix]

That's pretty cool. Seems a bit slow compared to casting (i know nothing tho) and hows the bond strength since its layered instead of basically 1 piece?

It is deposited in layers but essentially the metal is welded together. The strength is similar to traditional casting processes.

Any metal that can be made into a powder can be used. Anything from super corrosion resist nickel alloys for valves used on oil rigs, to stainless steel, to titanium can all be printed.

One of the biggest benefits to 3D printing of any material is that parts can be designed that would be difficult to make using traditional manufacturing processes.

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