3d printing industrial applications- automotive
3d printing industrial applications- automotive
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has come a long way since it was first developed in the 20th century.
While 3D printing began as a rapid prototyping tool, it has now evolved to encompass a number of different technologies.
The growth of 3D printing has seen a rapid increase in the number of companies adopting the technology.
Applications and use cases vary across industries, but broadly include tooling aids, visual and functional prototypes, and even end-use parts.
As the potential applications for 3D printing continue to grow, companies are beginning to look for ways to leverage the technology to create new business models and opportunities.
Here, we’ll explore the current state of 3D printing across industries, including how the technology is being used in each.
We hope this guide will give you insight into how 3D printing can be used to drive innovation and business growth, using real-life examples.
Automotive
The automotive industry is a growing user of additive manufacturing: in 2019 alone, global automotive additive manufacturing revenues reached $1.4 billion.
This number only looks set to increase, as revenues related to additive manufacturing in automotive parts production are expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2025,
According to a report from SmarTech. In fields such as motorsports and performance racing, design tools such as generative design and topology optimization are slowly changing traditional approaches to part design.
While prototyping currently remains the primary application for 3D printing in the automotive industry, companies are increasingly finding other use cases, such as tooling.
In addition, several automotive companies are beginning to find innovative end-use applications for 3D printing, marking an exciting development for the industry.
The Benefits of 3D printing for Automotive
Accelerate product development
Prototyping has become a key part of the product development process, providing a way to test and validate parts before they are manufactured.
3D printing offers a fast and cost-effective way to design and produce parts. By eliminating the need for tools, product teams can significantly speed up their product development cycles.
Greater design flexibility
The ability to quickly produce designs gives designers greater flexibility when testing multiple design options.
3D printing enables designers to quickly make design changes and modifications in a fraction of the time.
Customazition
3D printing offers automakers a cost-effective and flexible way to produce custom parts.
In the luxury car and motorsport sectors, companies are already using the technology to produce personalized parts for interior and exterior parts of vehicles.
Create complex geometric shapes
Since most automotive parts require complex geometries such as internal channels (for conformal cooling), thin walls, and fine meshes,
Can produce highly complex parts that are lightweight and durable.
