The 3D printing technology was once no more than a prototyping tool - and clearly, it still is. However, it's also now being used in car manufacturing. It is now viewed as a main manufacturing technology that is beyond prototyping. Manufacturers and consumers now dream of a fully 3D printed car. Of course, this is possible, thanks to the consistent development of 3D printing materials and technologies. Check out for cars and 3d printers.
So what makes 3D printing advantageous for the car industry?
Speedier Iteration During Prototyping
First, 3D printing is a quick prototyping technology that is currently used in several fields. The ability to fast-track prototype construction is highly valued by car manufacturers who are working towards a more efficient product development process. Using 3D printing can be a sure way to attain this goal, as it constructs parts quickly at an affordable cost compared to earlier prototyping procedures.
Reduced Car Weight
Car manufacturers are constantly looking for new methods of cutting the weight of their products. The lighter a car is, the less fuel it consumes, and that makes it more environment-friendly. Reducing the weight of a car requires optimizing its parts' designs. Applying the right optimization, a part's weight could go down by up to 90%. Either lighter structures are installed, thanks to innovative design patterns like lattices, or the total number of car parts is reduced to make a more efficient design.
Less Material Loss
With 3D printing, car parts may be constructed layer by layer. Hence, manufacturers only use how much of the material they need to build a particular car component. This is referred to as subtractive manufacturing: you would have lost material, which is not very sustainable and rather costly. The process turns out to be even cheaper overall when applied to metals. Indeed, avoiding additional costs for wasted material can be a real game changer when you tlak about production processes.
Customized 3D Printed Cars
Several car lovers are passionate about customizing their cars to make something very unique to them. Such customization may done either internally, externally or both. But being a special order, this will of course have a cost for car manufacturers. With 3D printing, they can make but one version of a model without a fuss.
Easy Part Replacement
Finally, if certain car parts are broken, replacing them may be difficult, especially if they are old model and may no longer be in production. So what's there for you to do? With 3D scanning combined with additive manufacturing, rare spare parts can be reproduced and even optimized anytime. Check out for Goengineer to get the best printers.
More info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing