3D Printing for Automotive

Automakers, race teams and other vehicle OEMs continue to turn to 3D printing for functional prototyping, assembly tools, forming and injection molds, and end-use parts. Electric vehicles represent a new market for additive manufacturing, and an opportunity for this technology to go farther than ever before. ​​​​​

BMW Expands Use of Additive Manufacturing to Foster Production Innovations
Automotive

BMW Expands Use of Additive Manufacturing to Foster Production Innovations

The BMW Group is manufacturing many work aids and tools for its own production system using various 3D printing processes, with items such as tailor-made orthoses for employees, teaching and production aids, and large, weight-optimized robot grippers, which are used for such things as carbon fiber-reinforced polymer roofs and entire floor assemblies.

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Automotive

Ford is Saving Millions through 3D Printing (But Maybe Not How You Think)

Two longtime workers at Ford’s Sharonville Transmission Plant near Cincinnati grew tired of experiencing the delays and downtime resulting from expensive and hard-to-get replacement parts. The solution? Learn additive manufacturing and save the company time and money.

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Automotive

Photocentric Explores How 3D Printed Battery Electrodes Could Drive Electric Vehicles Forward

Precise control of battery electrode architecture through photopolymerization opens the door to new cell geometries and lighter battery packs for EVs and more, Photocentric says.

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Automotive

As 3D Printing for Production Becomes Practical, the Attention in Materials Shifts to Practical Concerns

Recent posts relate to ensuring sufficient materials supply for production, certifying processes for AM materials, and even whether the properties of polymer AM include the ability to hold a screw.

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Automotive

Why GM’s Electric Future Is Also an Additive Future

Production capacity isn’t the only reason that additive has been slow to make inroads into the automotive industry. There is a larger barrier to entry—one that General Motors and Autodesk are working to overcome.

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Automotive

Consortium Successfully Implements Automated AM Production Line at BMW Group

After a three-year project time line, the Polyline project was finally completed with a fully automated operation installed at BMW’s additive manufacturing campus in Munich, Germany.

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Automotive

Liqcreate Creates Flame Retardant Polymer for High Temperature Applications

Parts made with this additive manufacturing resin can withstand high temperatures without posing a fire hazard due to its self-extinguishing capabilities.

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Automotive

Divergent Technologies Acquires Sigma Additive Solutions’ Software, Intellectual Property

The purchase of Sigma Additive's in-process monitoring software and IP will enhance the efficiency and quality control within the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) platform.

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Automotive

German National Railway Certifies Essentium HSE Printing Platform, Materials

Essentium’s additive manufacturing solutions will enable Deutsche Bahn to increase its fleet availability through easy and fast replacement of parts and tools.

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Automotive

Velo3D Qualifies Aluminum Alloy to Support Formula 1 Customers

Aluminum alloy supports Formula 1 customers by enabling the production of parts requiring high thermal conductivity and durability, and is available to print in both 50 and 100 micron layers.

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Automotive

AddUp Adds Constellium’s Aheadd CP1 Aluminum Alloy to Material Portfolio

The Aheadd CP1 aluminum alloy was developed by Constellium for the needs of additive manufacturing by laser powder bed fusion specifically for high-performance and lightweight applications.

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Automotive

Do Distributors Dream of Digital Inventory? Würth Additive Group Does

It’s more than a dream for Würth Additive Group and its parent company, in fact. Along with supplying additive equipment, the group is now developing solutions for sourcing 3D printed parts in a reliable, elastic digital inventory model.

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Automotive

Daimler, OMIC Evaluate Wire-Fed DED for Moldmaking

3D printing a core and cavity on machine from Gefertec, followed by machining, allowed for a complete mold tool to be produced in three days.

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Automotive

A Tour of The Stratasys Direct Manufacturing Facility

The company's Belton manufacturing site in Texas is growing to support its various 3D printing applications for mass production in industries such as automotive and aerospace.

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Automotive

3D Printed Cutting Tool for Large Transmission Part: The Cool Parts Show Bonus

A boring tool that was once 30 kg challenged the performance of the machining center using it. The replacement tool is 11.5 kg, and more efficient as well, thanks to generative design.

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Automotive

8 Transformations 3D Printing Is Making Possible

Additive manufacturing changes every space it touches; progress can be tracked by looking for moments of transformation. Here are 8 places where 3D printing is enabling transformative change.

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Automotive

How AM Enables Cobot Automation for Thyssenkrupp Bilstein (Includes Video)

The shock absorber maker has responded to its staffing shortages through extensive use of collaborative robots. In-house 3D printing makes this possible by providing the related hardware needed to complete the cobot-automated cells.

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FAQ: Automotive

What are examples of 3D printed automotive parts?

Examples of additively manufactured automotive parts include:

How do you 3D print a solid-state battery?

One company, Sakuu, developed a multi-material, multi-process 3D printing platform called Kavian. It combines a binder jetting type process for larger areas, and then material jetting for finer details.

Dave Peterson, who is the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Sakuu, describes a solid-state battery as a sandwich or a layer cake with the solid electrolyte in between the anode and the cathode. The challenge of a solid-state battery is the manipulation of thin sheets of material 20- to 30-microns thick and ensuring that these surfaces interface properly. Sakuu’s platform builds up the layers in the 3D printing process, removing the need to handle multiple, very thin sheets of material.

Source: Multimaterial 3D Printing Enables Solid State Batteries and How Additive Manufacturing Is Transforming EVs and Transportation

What are the benefits of additive manufacturing for the automotive industry?

Some benefits additive manufacturing and 3D printing bring to the automotive industry are:

  • Lightweighting
  • Assembly consolidation
  • Unique designs and surfaces to improve performance
  • Nimble workflow and prototyping
3D Printing for Electric Vehicles