Driven by Industry 4.0, automotive and its component companies have an increasingly urgent need to accelerate component research and development, trial production, and achieve high-quality mass production of parts. The application of 3D printing technology in the field of automobile manufacturing is gradually deepening as a result, from conceptual model printing to functional model printing, gradually applied to the manufacturing of functional components, and expanded towards the direction of building complete vehicles, bringing many innovative implementation cases to automobile manufacturing, mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Component manufacturing:
3D printing technology can directly integrate complex structural components through design drawings and material selection, and can achieve lightweight design of complex structural components through structural optimization, material performance, etc. It is an ideal choice for small and medium-sized prototype manufacturing, greatly saving costs for automobile manufacturing and providing greater possibilities for automobile design.
For example, by using PEI material 3D printed components as core materials and bonding them with carbon fibers to form carbon fiber composite components, which are applied in the interior of automobiles, lightweight and mechanically strong components are manufactured in a fast, low-cost and mold free manner. While ensuring performance, the weight of the components is minimized to the greatest extent possible, which helps to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle and improve fuel efficiency or range.
Rapid prototyping and design validation:
In the early stages of automotive design, designers and engineers need to quickly create physical models to verify the feasibility of design concepts and the effectiveness of exterior styling. 3D printing can produce high-precision prototypes based on design drawings in a short period of time,identify potential issues with the prototypes, make corresponding modifications and adjustments, and then quickly produce improved versions through multiple iterations until the desired design effect is achieved. This is like installing an accelerator in the R&D process of automobile manufacturing, greatly shortening the R&D cycle and reducing development costs.
For example, Rexroth’s flagship products Shape 4K and P400, combined with high-performance resins, have created an integrated innovative solution for the automotive parts industry, fully supporting prototype verification to finished product manufacturing, greatly improving the design flexibility and production efficiency of the automotive manufacturing industry, achieving innovation in exterior design, lightweighting, and performance improvement, and greatly reducing the time from conceptual conception to product launch.
Personalized customized production:
3D printing technology can be customized according to the specific needs of customers, providing more choices for automotive consumers. This customized production method can meet the personalized needs of different consumers and improve customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, personalized customization can also help companies better shape their brand image and enhance their market competitiveness.
For example, some car brands provide customized services to customers, and consumers can propose personalized needs based on their preferences. 3D printing technology can produce customized car exterior kits, interior decorations, wheel hubs, etc. according to these requirements, making each car unique. Customize for specific user groups with special needs, such as customizing seats, control devices, etc. that meet the physical conditions of drivers with special needs, or customizing high-performance racing parts for racing enthusiasts to enhance the specific performance of vehicles.
Repair and replacement services:
When parts of a car are damaged or malfunction during use, especially for some old models whose parts may have been discontinued, 3D printing technology can quickly manufacture replacement parts based on the size and specifications of the original parts, reducing vehicle maintenance time and costs. For example, some rare parts of classic car models that have been around for a long time can be solved through 3D printing.
In some special cases, such as when a vehicle malfunctions in a remote area and suitable replacement parts cannot be obtained in a timely manner, 3D printing equipment can be carried to the site to directly manufacture the required parts according to the needs, achieve on-site maintenance, and improve the availability and reliability of the vehicle. For example, emergency maintenance of engineering vehicles working in the field can be achieved by using CASAIM 3D scanning of existing parts and 3D printing to manufacture temporary or replacement parts, thereby improving maintenance efficiency.
Nowadays, 3D printing technology is reshaping the automotive manufacturing industry, and its unlimited potential to change the industry landscape is increasingly evident. 3D printing provides a fast, flexible, and efficient solution for the automotive industry, advancing a new stage of efficient, flexible, and sustainable component manufacturing, and bringing new changes and breakthroughs to the entire industry.
Lava provides online 3D printing service. We can help our customers to develop 3D print online and even bring them to mass production.