Future of automotive modifications?

[— kung fu jesus —]

I was reading some tech articles on 3D printing over the past few weeks. I started thinking about how that tech would relate to automotive enthusiasts. There are two pieces of 3d printing tech that I found especially interesting; the first had to do with Alcoa ramping up R&D and production of their powdered metals for 3D printing. The second was how Autodesk has started to gang plastic 3D printers together to print very large parts. It's really fascinating stuff, to me, as a designer AND as an automotive enthusiast.

Let me riff on how I see this affecting us. With scanning tech as it is, I can see custom parts becoming easier and eventually cheaper to produce. Let me elaborate by saying if I wanted to make a custom bumper, flares, or maybe even a hardtop, I could collect data points to use for a computer model, by using a hand held scanner, to create what I wanted that could fit exclusively to my car, or others depending on modification. This is the plastic 3D printing. Companies that are 'printing farms' would print out the parts I designed. In the metal printing, I have no experience in it yet, but custom intake manifolds, throttle bodies, maybe internal parts? I don't know because I'm not sure how the printed parts hold up to stresses in that manufacturing method. I know the Alcoa article mentioned the use of aluminum, titanium, and a couple other alloys in the use of 3D metal printing that is already in use in aerospace.

I also thought of the down side, too. It *could* make knockoffs much easier to replicate. Maybe the prints are used as moulds? Maybe they create more options and bespoke pieces? I don't know, but I think it's pretty interesting and wanted share the thought.

http://www.3dprintingprogress.com/ar...er-plant-opens

https://www.facebook.com/futurism/vi...2405592938644/

[MiataQuest]

This could really change things...
Right now our shapes are dictated by the manufacturing process, tooling, and usually using the same material for said process/tooling.

When it comes to 3D printing the internal shapes can deviate from manufacturing process/tooling and in the future multiple materials can be printed inside of each other.

[— kung fu jesus —]

I have a client who is working with a large retailer. They are experimenting with custom customer solutions on a a range of products where they are printed on site in lieu of stocking the options. The cost isn't quite there, but I see the finishes and material options rapidly improving/evolving to where it would be cost effective.

[Demon I Am]

It seems like 3d printing would produce a lot of excess waste. Does that get recycled back into base product?

[— kung fu jesus —]

The knock out can be recycled, yes. It terms of distribution costs, production costs, the savings could be drastic.

[HarryB]

Actually 3DP saves a bit on material when we talk custom parts/one-offs. For custom parts, it is also most probably the cheapest option as well. FDM (filament deposition) technology is now really cheap, quality gets better and printers larger. However it will take years for structural parts to be accessible to the masses. Sure, Boeing is 3D printing jet injectors at the moment, and our FSAE team looks at 3D printed suspension parts, but cost is still extremely high.

I was involved recently in a scientific article, with a mass customization concept that was really nice; using a cheap/fast process to produce the "basic" part (i.e. injection molding or stamping) and use 3DP to directly print custom features on it.

[— kung fu jesus —]

Alcoa seems to be thinking the pricing is ready for expansion.

[theothersawyer]

I was just researching 3D printers actually. Mostly because I am taking graphics classes and I have a part that I can envision in my head that I need made. 3D printing would be the best option for this part, but I don't have access to a printer or anything! Oh well!

[HarryB]

There are vendors that you can send your design and they print it for you, at least in Europe, and prices are reasonable.

https://www.3dhubs.com/

[CMP]

We have Shapeways here in the US for this, and I'm using them to 3D print my Enkei RPF1 center cap test designs.

Check this guy out.

[— kung fu jesus —]

We have Shapeways here in the US for this, and I'm using them to 3D print my Enkei RPF1 center cap test designs.

Check this guy out.

No large-scale. Though metal print is somewhat rare.

[Dave737]

At least one company is printing the whole car.

https://localmotors.com/3d-printed-car/

[NCGreasemonkey]

I'll be a test dummy for a 3-D modded 2.0 stroker with 11.0 . If it can come in under the current price and machining. I know that the tech costs. And the prices will come down with development.