Applications for Additive Manufacturing in the Automotive Industry

In the span of a decade, Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing has moved from an optional piece of equipment for producing relatively simple prototypes to an absolute necessity — one that is transforming the automotive industry in fundamental ways.

Watch the video below to learn about additive manufacturing in the automotive industry:

Example additive manufacturing applications for the automotive industry

Now commonly used in automotive design studios, factory assembly lines and test tracks, 3D printers are creating complex parts, speeding up tooling cycles, enhancing measurement and testing, and providing customization solutions across all aspects of the vehicle development process. Typical applications that Javelin and Stratasys 3D printers can provide you are:

Rapid Prototyping

Accelerate the product development process

• Javelin Stratasys Solution:
  • High-performance FDM thermoplastics for real-world testing
  • PolyJet photopolymers offer fine detail and unmatched product realism
  • Multi-material and multi-colour capabilities with PolyJet technology
  • Multiple additive technologies available
• Value delivered:
  • Complete more design iterations in less time
  • Verify parts in real time
  • Validate designs before investing in costly tooling
  • Communicate ideas and gain feedback with physical models

Automotive Jigs and Fixtures

Improve production efficiency

• Javelin Stratasys Solution:
  • Tough, durable FDM thermoplastics that withstand rugged manufacturing environments
  • Ability to combine many material properties in one part, such as rigid and flexible, or opaque and transparent
• Value delivered:
  • Cost-effectively manufacture parts and eliminate expensive tooling
  • Reduce weight of jigs and fixtures
  • Move quickly from prototype to final product
  • Customize for individual operator and/or to specific applications
  • Create tooling on demand
  • Revise tooling easily

Automotive Tooling

Increase manufacturing agility

• Javelin Stratasys Solution:
  • Production-grade thermoplastics offer specialized properties like electrostatic dissipation, UV resistance and V0 flammability
  • ULTEM 9085 resin for high strength-to-weight ratio
• Value delivered:
  • Streamline production by 3D printing parts in hours or days
  • Customize on the fly for optimized designs
  • Create prototypes from the same process and materials that you’ll use for the final product
  • Reduce fixed costs of tooling

Automotive Production Parts

Eliminate constraints of traditional manufacturing with low-volume production parts

• Javelin Stratasys Solution:
  • Tough, durable FDM thermoplastics that withstand rugged manufacturing environments
  • Reduce costs by eliminating expense of tooling, set-up and changeovers
• Value delivered:
  • Achieve geometrically complex parts, including hollow interiors and negative draft
  • Improve flexibility and customization