3D Printed Parts

[Phadreus_imp]

At SEMA a few years ago, they had a huge 3D printer set up in the lobby. All throughout the show, it was printing a full-size car (albeit a very simple buggy type), and on the last day of the show an electric motor was fitted, and it was driven out.

These people is 3D printing complete rockets!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz165f1g8-E

It's a new world. Just imagine on a bike, the complexity of designing a water cooled engine head, with internal passages, etc. When 3D printing is cost effective, all the moulding complexity won't be needed. And when it's precise enough, most machining won't be needed either!

Huge savings in tooling, material waste, manpower... and much more design freedom.

We have a full CNC Machine shop where I work, and we've already seen some real-world applications of 3D Printing in metal, or what is commonly referred to as "additive manufacturing" in industry, where we've reduced turn around time, as well as cost. Metal 3D printing hasn't come along far enough in volume and technology to competitive in all instances when compared to traditional Machining, but it's just a matter of time and mass adoption for to get there.

You are spot on with your points of benefit. Your last one, design freedom, is pretty significant in my world. We make concessions in our designs all the time to accommodate limitations in Machining. Seldom does it compromise our designs for functionality, but certainly adds to our design and processing times.

I saw a Manufacturer at IMTS in Chicago a couple of years ago who has developed a 3D Printer large enough to print sections of hulls for sailing yachts. Impressive stuff.